Dangote/NNPCL Faceoff: We are Neither Thieves Nor Saboteurs, Says Mele Kyari
Lawmakers lament $1.5 billion expended on Port Harcourt Refinery Dangote Refinery seeks protection, confirms receiving 60% crude from national oil company
Emmanuel Addeh, Sunday Aborisade and Juliet in Abuja
The Group Chief Executive Officer,
NNPCL, Mele Kyari, yesterday at the interactive session organised by the Senate Adhoc Committee probing sabotage in the oil and gas
sector, chaired by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, declared that the leadership of the NNPCL are neither thieves or economic saboteurs. He
www.thisdaylive.com
James Emejo in Abuja
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
stressed that the NNPCL, “is loyal and faithful to the country,” adding that its management vowed to protect the interest of Nigeria in the petroleum industry. He observed that most problems in the petroleum industry, have nothing to do with NNPCL. Continued on page 10
"We are faithful and loyal to the economic interest of this country. We
FG Begins Investigation into Nationwide Protests,Vows to Bring Criminals to Justice
Deji Elumoye, Chuks okocha, michael olugbode, olawale Ajimotokan, onyebuchi Ezigbo, Adedayo Akinwale, ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja, Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi, Seriki Adinoyi in Jos, Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano and Kemi olaitan in Ibadan
The federal government, yesterday, announced that it had launched investigations into the violence that raged in the last one week of the countrywide protest, to identify and bring to justice all those responsible.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammad Idris, who gave the assurance yesterday while briefing members of the diplomatic community at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, however, said President Bola Tinubu did not come to office to cause hardship or make life difficult for Nigerians.
The government has however warned that it would not tolerate
L-R: Minister of state for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri; GCEO, NNPC Ltd, Mr. Mele Kyari; and the Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, during an interactive session by the
held at the National Assembly ... yesterday Continued on page 10
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MEETING...
L-R:Non-Executive Director, Greenwich Merchant
Mr.
Treasurer,
Executive Vice
&
Ekpo: Gas Development ‘ll Lead to Nigeria’s Prosperity, Lower Cost of Living
Addeh in Abuja
Amid the clamour for good governance and reduction in the cost of living in the country, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo has asserted the federal government’s firm determination to advance the nation’s gas resources as the surest pathway to economic prosperity.
The minister stated this in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State yesterday when he visited the facilities and projects of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), where he serves as the co-chair of the Governing Council.
He stated that Nigeria is endowed with vast natural gas resources of about 209 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, emphasising the necessity to harness these resources effectively to drive economic development.
He underlined President Bola Tinubu’s unalloyed support to the gas sector, with initiatives extending to the entire value chain, notably gas development, distribution and penetration.
Federal government’s drive, according to him is geared to lower the cost of transportation, the cost of living and impact every part of the country positively, a statement from his spokesman, Louis Ibah, said. He listed some of the key initiatives his ministry is pursing to include investments in critical gas infrastructure development to support the transportation and distribution of natural gas across the country, promotion of domestic gas utilisation for power generation,
industrial applications, and transportation as well as strengthening NCDMB's capacity to build capacity and enforce local content policies.
Other laudable initiatives reeled out by the minister include encouraging and supporting gas-to-power projects to ensure a reliable and sustainable supply of electricity.
He listed others as expanding Nigeria’s capacity to export Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to international markets, to generate revenue and position Nigeria as a key player in the global gas market and strengthening the policy and regulatory frameworks governing the gas sector to create an enabling environment for investment and innovation.
The minister remarked that 60 per cent of NCDMB’s investments are gas-based and advised that new projects by the agency should focus on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) because of the direct impact on transportation and cost of living.
He lauded NCDMB for the remarkable strides it had made in promoting local content and for constructing the magnificent 17-storey headquarter building, which signifies the impressive growth and depth of local capacity.
Ekpo added that the visit provided him an opportunity to meet with management and staff of the Board, learn more about the agency’s operations, and discuss how to continue driving local content development in our nation’s gas sector.
In his welcome remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Ogbe thanked the minister for visiting the Board’s facilities and
assured him of the commitment of the management and staff of the Board to supporting the federal government’s economic aspirations.
The minister and his entourage toured NCDMB’s facilities, including the Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (TICC) and listened to presentations from three incubates on their technology solutions and how NCDMB is supporting them from concept to commercialisation.
Tower and selected offices of the Bayelsa State Government.
The team also visited the NCDMB Conference Hotel project, which is undergoing construction, the NCDMB gas hub at Polaku, Yenagoa as well as the 10 megawatts gas-power plant, which supplies electricity to the Nigerian Content
The minister also made a brief visit to the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who welcomed the Minister to the state and solicited for key investments in the gas sector.
He argued that since Bayelsa State supplies a substantial percentage of the gas feedstock used by the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) plant, it deserves to host one of the company’s gas processing facilities. He also demanded accelerated development of the Brass methanol project as a plank for enhanced economic development of the state.
CBN Donates 5 Trucks of Fertilisers to Bauchi Farmers
Governor Bala inaugurates distribution committee
Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, yesterday, inaugurated a committee set up for the distribution of the 70 trucks of assorted fertilizer donated to Bauchi State farmers by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Government House, Bauchi, the Governor commended the federal government for the gesture which he said would go a long way in supporting farmers at the grassroots to boost their farming activities thereby enhancing production in the state.
Mohammed, said on its part, the state government has since embarked on the sale of NPK fertilizer for the 2024 farming season at subsidised rate of N20,000 per bag with a directive to the relevant agencies to ensure that, the commodities are made available to farmers across the 20 LGAs of the State.
Represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, the Governor also recalled that, he had distributed among other things, 20 units of tractors, 94 rice milling machines, 47 groundnut decorticator machines, 47 multipurpose trashes, 470 Knapsack Sprayers, six Animal Feed Crushers and 20 Tricycles to assist eligible farmers for 2024 farming season.
According to him, in addition, the state government has also supported 10 communities through a Community Revolving Fund (CRF), with each beneficiary getting a cheque of $25,000, making a total of $250,000 through the state's ACReSAL Funds.
"All these efforts are geared at complementing the effort of the federal government towards food security in our dear state and the country in general. It may interest you to know that despite the enormous challenges and the limited resources of the state government which makes it difficult to support and grow all the economic sub-sectors at the same
Health Experts Highlight Need for Clinical Governance
Health experts have advocated for more attention by government at all levels to clinical governance as a critical component that can significantly reduce the impact of errors in the treatment of patients.
The lack of attention to clinical governance, the experts said, has significantly hindered the development and efficiency of Nigeria's healthcare sector.
They argued that most patients are being denied comprehensive healthcare because many hospitals have failed to integrate the practice into their operational frameworks.
Leading the debate for clinical
to Reduce Hospital Errors
governance during the lunch of AGCare Specialist Clinic at Asaba the Delta State capital, its founder, Dr Chukwuka Monye noted that the clinic has tackled the challenge of inadequate clinical governance by implementing innovative models, enabling the hospital to stand out despite Nigeria’s broader healthcare challenges.
He said: ‘’Our vision is to ensure that quality healthcare should not be the exclusive preserve of only a few. Why should quality care be only for a few people? This is one of the reasons we embarked on rolling out more centres across the country. We are thinking about healthcare in an integrated manner."
Speaking in the same vein, the Principal Lead of AGCare, Dr Ebomwonyi Osagie, explained that the system is a framework designed to ensure quality care for every patient, stressing that it involves maximum attention from the registration desk through the entire experience of the patient in the hospital.
‘’Everything is reviewed such that the chances of having medication error, wrong diagnosis, and litigation issues are minimal. You can have issues with medicare anywhere in the world but how do you ensure that it is reduced to the barest, It is through clinical governance’’ he added.
In her remarks, the Chief Execu-
tive Officer of the clinic, Dr Onyi Babatunde, pointed that the hospital also prioritises quality patient’s experience and community relationships in addition to clinical governance.
‘’While we are catering to those who can come to us, we are also not forgetting that there are people who may not be able to come to us. So, periodically, we will take healthcare to those who cannot come to us and ensure that as many people as possible can access quality healthcare’’ she said.
The newly launched clinic boasts facilities such as male and female wards, nursing stations, consulting rooms, paediatric unit, operating theatre and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
time, the government has accorded agriculture the priority it deserves.
"In an effort to consolidate our agricultural transformation initiative, my government is planning to acquire heavy-duty agricultural equipment to raise the level of agricultural production and ensure food security in the state."
He mentioned some of the committee's terms of reference to include designing criteria for the selection of genuine farmers and farmers' associations across the state, ensure fair distribution of the assorted fertilizer to the benefiting farmers and to submit report to the state government within
three weeks.
The Governor who said Bauchi State was blessed with abundant land, human, and natural resources, assured that his administration would properly harness and utilise them for the overall economic development of the state.
Responding, the chairman of the committee, Alhaji Nuhu Ahmed Wabi, who is the Emir of Jama’are, expressed gratitude to the state government for finding them worthy to serve in the committee and promised to ensure justice and equity in the distribution process.
SEC to Outline Agenda for Capital Market at CMC Meeting
The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, is set to outline the Commission’s vision for the Nigerian capital market at the second Capital Market Committee (CMC) meeting.
The meeting which would hold in Lagos on August 14, 2024, aims to develop strategies for enhancing the capital market’s role in driving economic growth and development through initiatives that attract investments, improve market efficiency, and safeguard investor interests in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
SEC, in a statement explained,
“The meeting will bring together key stakeholders in the Nigerian capital market to discuss the industry's current landscape, regulatory framework, and strategies for future growth. Participants will exchange ideas and reaffirm their commitment to fostering a robust investment climate characterised by innovation, sustainability, and investor protection.
“The meeting would focus on
critical issues affecting the market and ensure that those concerns were thoroughly addressed.
“To inform its deliberations, the committee will review reports from technical committees, market infrastructures, and industry observers. Emerging market trends will also be a focal point of discussion.”
The CMC is an industry-wide body comprising the SEC, capital market operators, trade groups, and other stakeholders.
It serves as a pivotal platform for dialogue, facilitates the exchange of ideas, addresses key issues impacting market growth and organisation, and collaborates on shaping the market’s future.
The committee was established primarily as a means for stakeholders to exchange ideas and provide feedback to the SEC, aiding in the continuous improvement of market operations and regulatory frameworks.
The meeting is expected to draw CEOs from all registered capital market firms, including brokers/ dealers, investment advisers, custodians, fund/portfolio managers, and more.
Emmanuel
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja
Bank,
Anselm Orazulike;
Mrs. Kehinde Olomojobi;
President, Global Trade Bank,Afreximbank, Haytham ElMaayergi; Chairman, Greenwich Merchant Bank, Mr. Kayode Falowo; President, Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah; Director
Global Head Trade Finance, Afreximbank, Ms. Gwen Mwaba; Non-Executive Director, Greenwich Merchant Bank, Dr. Olutoyin Okeowo, and acting Managing Director, Greenwich Merchant Bank, Mr. Benson Ogundeji, during a business development meeting held in Cairo, Egypt… recently.
Senate committee’S meeting with StakeholderS in oil induStry...
L-R: Member, Senate Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, Senator Abdullah Yahaha; Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and another member of the committee, Senator Adams Oshiomhole during the committee’s meeting with stakeholders in the industry held at Conference Room 231, Senate New Wing, National Assembly Complex, Abuja … yesterday
Like NACCIMA, MAN Insists $2.4bn Unsettled Forward Contracts
Triggering Severe Crisis for Manufacturers, Economy
Says sector incurred over N1.5tn losses in foreign related transactions
Recorded 108.7% increase in job losses in 2023 alone Many SMEs forced to close operations
dike onwuamaeze
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) yesterday, declared that continued non-redemption of the $2.4 billion FX forward contracts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was posing a grave threat to the survival of Nigerian manufacturing companies and jeopardising the livelihoods of thousands of workers.
This comes exactly three days after the National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Dele Oye, also lamented that the non-payment of Foreign Exchange (FX) forwards had severely crippled affected companies, pushing many towards bankruptcy. Oye, had also said businesses and banks involved were now burdened with exorbitant interest rates, averag-
ing over 35 per cent. However, the latest declaration by MAN, was in a statement issued by its Director General, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, titled, “The Implications of the Continued Unsettled Forex Forward by the CBN and Its Impact on the Manufacturing Sector,” which was exclusively obtained byMANTHISDAY.outlined in the statement that the CBN’s non settlement of the FX Forward obligations has caused over N1.5 trillion in forexrelated transactions losses in the manufacturing sector that recorded 108.7 per cent increase in job losses in 2023 and forced many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to close operations to the detriment of the Nigerian economy.
The association stressed that manufacturing companies were
grappling with inability to fulfill their offshore obligations due to the CBN's non-delivery of dollars and were faced with the grim prospect of downsizing or shutting down operations completely.
It observed that the gloomy scenario was avoidable and urged the CBN that the time to end the impasse was now.
Ajayi-Kadir added: “Quite frankly, the CBN's non-fulfillment of its forward contract obligations has led to a cascade of negative consequences.“Manufacturing concerns have been worse hit. For instance, within the last six months, companies have incurred over N1.5 trillion in forex-related transactions losses, contributing to the poor and worsening performance of many businesses.
“The resulting exchange rate
differentials and the burden of interest on loans to meet Naira deposit requirements have been entirely transferred to manufacturers, increasing production costs and impacting product prices.
“This crisis has disrupted manufacturing supply chains, hindered productivity, and jeopardised job security. Consequently, businesses are struggling to meet their loan repayments, leading to the rescheduling and restructuring of loan terms.
“Due to numerous challenges, such as high production costs and low consumer demand currently confronting manufacturers, there is little hope of meeting financial obligations as scheduled. “As a result, these rescheduled loans often come with higher interest rates.”
He noted that the immediate
IHS Approves Eight Years Renewal, Extension of MTN Tower Lease Agreements
IHS Nigeria, a subsidiary of IHS Holding Limited, one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count, and MTN Nigeria, a subsidiary of MTN Group, yesterday, announced an agreement to renew and extend all Nigerian Tower Master Lease Agreements until December 2032, covering approximately 13,500 tenancy contracts.
With regards to the approximately 2,500 MTN Nigeria tenancies that had been due to expire at the end of 2024 and in 2025, under the new terms IHS Towers would renew 1,430 tenancies (including new colocations).
The renewed and extended contracts included new financial terms that provide what the parties believe to be a more sustainable split between local and foreign currency, as well as a new diesel-linked component.
The arrangement was testament to the criticality of IHS Towers’ infrastructure and the strong operational links between IHS Towers and MTN.
In a statement released by IHS
Holding Limited, yesterday, the company stated that under the new terms, there would be a dollar component that would continue to benefit from annual escalators linked to US Consumer Price Index, a naira component that would benefit from escalators linked to Nigerian Consumer Price Index, and a new component indexed to the cost of
providing diesel power, introduced to act as a hedge against diesel prices and FX fluctuations.
"This marks a significant milestone for IHS Towers as it has now completed the renewal of all tower MLA’s in Nigeria, a testament to the deepened relationship between the two companies," the Chairman and CEO, IHS Towers, Sam Darwish, said.
According to Darwish, “We are delighted to announce the renewal and extension of our agreement with our largest customer, MTN Nigeria. This marks a significant milestone for IHS Towers as it has completed the renewal of all tower MLA’s in Nigeria, a testament to the deepened relationship between the two companies.
implication of this was the sector’s declining contribution to the overall economy and erosion of trust among foreign suppliers and financial institutions due to Nigerian businesses' inability to honour their initially issued letters of credit, which has further compounded the challenges of foreign financial flows and investment into the country.
According to him, “it is expedient to note that many businesses borrowed money from banks for working capital that was used by the banks to open clean line for letter of credit for their companies based on the allocated forward contract from the CBN.
“Worse still, the commercial banks have continued to charge dollar account along with other Naira bank charges such as 35 per cent interest rate on the facilities that these companies have with their banks.
“All these have significantly eroded the working capital of the companies who barely make margins of 5.0 per cent on the sales of their products.
“This rather worrisome breach of contract has further exacerbated currency risk for businesses, leading to substantial financial losses and operational disruptions.”
Ajayi-Kadir argued that businesses with substantial foreign exchange liabilities are currently faced with acute credit and liquidity risks due to the unsettled forward contracts, which has strained their cash flow and jeopardised their overall financial stability.
According to him, “while many SMEs have been forced to close or temporarily suspend operations, larger corporations have incurred massive foreign exchange losses exceeding over N300 billion in the second half of 2023. “This situation has been exacerbated by the continuous depreciation of the Naira, which has depreciated by more than 72 per cent, from N450 to N1600 per dollar over the past year.”
He, therefore, pointed out that manufacturing firms’ financial planning and budgeting have been severely compromised due to the uncertainty surrounding future exchange rates, adding that the cascading effects on the economy are far-reaching, impacting production, employment, government revenue and overall economic growth.
Ajayi-Kadir, also noted that even though the CBN recently announced its inability to honour $2.4 billion worth of forward contracts, citing an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into some foreign exchange transactions, “no clear allegations or infractions have been communicated to any of our members and none have been indicted for any infractions. Yet, the forwards have remained unredeemed.”
He said the $2.4 billion worth of unsettled forward contracts that stemmed from the backlog of $7 billion has triggered severe crisis for the manufacturing sector and Nigerian economy.
Unity Bank Share Price Remains Flat at N1.51 after Merger Deal with Providus Bank
kayode tokede
The stock price of Unity Bank Plc, yesterday traded flat at N1.51 per share after the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) approval of its merger with Providus Bank Plc. Activities in the banking stock was inactive as it recorded nil volume and value on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).
The stock price closed trading yesterday at N1.51 per share, dropping N0.01 or 0.66per cent from N1.52 per share it closed for trading last week.
In its year-to-date performance, Unity Bank stock price on NGX has depreciated by N0.11 or 6.79 per cent from N1.62 per share it closed for trading in 2023.
Capital market analysts have expressed mixed reactions over Unity Bank delisting from the Exchange.
Speaking with THISDAY, the Vice President, Highcap Securities Limited, David Adnori, stated that the senior partner and scheme of agreement in the merger would decide if Unity Bank is going to delist from the Exchange.
“I do not think Providus Bank
is as big as Unity Bank. I expect the product of the merger to still remain in the interest of the financial market. The market is yet to know the agreement between the two banks and we will have to examine it for us to know the senior partner in the merger that is absorbing the other. It will enable us to know if Unity bank is going to be delisted from the stock market.”
Responding also, investment banker and stockbroker, Mr. Tajudeen Olayinka said: “I think it is in the interest of the two banks to take steps to put their respective banks
on the path to meeting the new capital requirements for banks as stipulated by CBN.
“CBN also indicated that it was providing financial accommodation for the two banks to sustain their post-merger existence.
“The implication of this is that the proposed merger of the two banks must have been regulatory induced. It also suggests that at least one of the two banks may not be in a good financial position to attract a suitor, hence the need for CBN to provide financial accommodation, which I suspect to be a stabilisation
facility in the form of a term loan.
“Clearly, the essence is to ensure survival of the two banks post new capital requirements' deadline.” Unity Bank commenced operations in January 2006, following the merger of nine banks with competences in investment, corporate and retail banking. It is one of Nigeria’s leading retail banks with 213 business offices spread across the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory. It recently posted negative results in its recently released financials for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023.
emma okonji
NETWORK ONE PAYMENT PLATFORM LAuNchED IN NIGERIA...
NACCIMA Urges FG to Treat Business Investors Well
to Attract FDI
Dike Onwuamaeze
The National President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Dele Oye, has urged the federal government to review how existing investors are treated.
Oye said this yesterday in a public statement titled: “Economic Management and the Presidential Dilemma: The Case of Nestle Nigeria Plc. vs National Sports Lottery Regulatory Commission.”
He told government that it was not yet too late to start with the
Specifically, NACCIMA listed the case of the Nestle Nigeria Plc and National Sports Lottery Regulatory Commission (NSLRC), urging the government to get serious about attracting more investments into the country.
Nestle Nigeria Plc case because it highlighted “the need for relentless advocacy to ensure that businesses are not unduly hampered by regulatory overreach.”
He added: “The cases of Nestle Nigeria Plc and Dangote Refinery underscored the challenges businesses face in Nigeria due to the unexpected actions of some government MDAs.
“These incidents have raised concerns among current local
investors and prospective foreign investors about Nigeria's status as a viable investment destination.”
According to him, NACCIMA felt compelled to address the recent events involving long-term investor and distinguished multinational brand, Nestle Nigeria Plc.
“It is important to acknowledge that the actions taken by various government agencies against legitimate private business operations are interconnected.
British Envoy Assures FG of Safety of Nigerians in UK
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Mongomery yesterday assured Nigerians in the United Kingdom (UK) of their safety and security.
The call followed the recent disorder in a number of cities in the United Kingdom.
The British High Commissioner spoke during a meeting with the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja Montgomery said 12 towns in total were affected by the ‘disorder’. He however, assured the Nigerian Community in the UK that government was doing everything possible to restore calm and normalcy to the affected communities.
He stated that government had set up 60 special courts comprising the UK Police and Legal operatives to look into the criminal disorder.
Montgomery added that over 400 persons had been arrested in connection with the disorder. He said he was optimistic that
the UK system will sort things out very soon.
The British envoy emphasised that the United Kingdom was home to people of different countries and races and will remain liberal to qualified persons to live, school and work in the UK.
He stated that the UK will seek justice against those who incite these acts with hatred and disinformation online.
According to the High Commissioner: "We will not as a country accept discrimination or attacks against any community".
Montgomery equally informed that about 430,000 visa applications by Nigerians were successful this year while advising visa applicants to apply by themselves and be circumspect of agents.
In her comments, the NIDCOM boss, Abike Dabiri, acknowledged that in the midst of the issues no Nigerian had died or had been affected by the disorder so far.
She stressed that NiDCOM was in touch with the Nigerian High Commission in London, the large Diaspora Groups and
Student Groups and none have reported any causality to date.
She applauded the UK Government for their timely interventions, particularly the arrests made so far, while reminding Nigerians of the travel advisory issued by Nigeria ‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
She advised Nigerians in the UK to stay safe, and be cautious of their surroundings, particularly at this time.
Also present at the meeting was the British Deputy High Commissioner, Gill Lever, First Secretary Political, Natalie Palmer, and some staff of NiDCOM.
“Unfortunately, some of these MDAs often hinder rather than support business enterprises. Therefore, we must express our concern regarding those agencies utilising extrajudicial means on law-abiding legal entities. To be clear, this affects all Nigerian companies,” he said.
He said that the NLRC invaded Nestle's headquarters with armed policemen, which raised “questions about the seriousness of our country’s ability to retain investors, talk less of securing new foreign investments.”
He added that on November 29, 2023, Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos declared the invasion and sealing of Nestle's offices by the NLRC as illegal and unconstitutional.
He noted that the court also ruled that the NLRC's actions violated Sections 44(1) and 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which protect property rights and the dignity of individuals.
But despite the court's ruling,
according to him, the NLRC filed a stay of execution, requesting the court to delay the judgment's implementation pending their appeal, arguing that the dispute should await the appellate court's decision. He said: “We would like to offer some counsel here. If the government is serious about attracting more investment, it needs to review how existing investors are treated. This also applies to the overall economic management of the country.
“By looking at other examples within the African continent, we can find alternative approaches to economic management. This government should adopt policies and approaches that promote business growth through incentives, simplified tax regimes, and robust legal frameworks that protect investors' rights.
“A stable and predictable regulatory environment is crucial for attracting and retaining investments,” he added.
House: Delay in Implementation of 50% Reduction Lawmakers’ Salary Due to Administrative Procedure
The House of Representatives has said the delay in implementation of its 50 per cent reduction in the salary of lawmakers for a period of six months was due to necessary, “administrative procedures and coordination with financial institutions.”
The spokesperson of the House, Hon. Akin Rotimi, in a statement issued yesterday, assured Nigerians
that instructions for adjusting salaries had since been issued and would be enforced moving forward to ensure “our pledge is fully realised.”
He said: “It has come to our notice that some media outlets are reporting claims of discrepancies in the salaries of members of the House of Representatives, suggesting that we received 100 per cent of our July salaries, amounting to N936,979, despite pledging to donate 50 per cent of N600,000 for six months to
efforts to ameliorate the conditions of our constituents.
“The actual monthly salary for Honourable Members is N600,000, after deductions for advances such as housing, which are paid at the commencement of the tenure.
“The Honourable Member who displayed his salary on a TV programme is an exceptional case, as he assumed office through a court decision many months after the on-boarding process was
Coronation Merchant Bank Appoints Abiagam Acting MD/CEO
Coronation Merchant Bank, an investment bank, has announced the appointment of Paul Abiagam as its Acting Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer.
The appointment which became effective immediately, is part of a succession framework designed to ensure the bank’s continued leadership and innovation in the African financial subsector.
Abiagam, who previously served as Deputy Managing Director of Coronation Merchant Bank, takes over the reins with a track record of spearheading strategic initiatives that have significantly enhanced the bank’s financial and operational
performance.
A statement from the bank noted that his expertise spans corporate, commercial and consumer banking, with a notable focus on strategic business development and wealth management.
Commenting on the appointment, Chairman of Coronation Merchant Bank, Mr. Babatunde Folawiyo said, "Paul is a proven leader whose strategic acumen and extensive experience in the banking sector make him the ideal choice to steer Coronation Merchant Bank through its next phase of growth. His appointment as Acting Managing Director/CEO aligns with our phased leadership transition plan, which has been carefully executed
with the cooperation of the erstwhile MD/CEO, Banjo Adegbohungbe.
“We have full confidence in Paul’s ability to drive our strategic goals and deliver exceptional value to our stakeholders."
Over his professional career spanning more than two decades, Abiagam has earned a reputation for leading high-performing teams to achieve exceptional results. In his roles at renowned financial services companies, he has driven significant transformations through innovative strategies, aligning systems with corporate goals, and thereby unlocking exponential profitability and growth.
His leadership skills are complemented by his strong
analytical capabilities in finance, risk management and operations, which have been instrumental in developing cutting-edge insights that propel sustainable profits.
His forward-thinking approach to international trade finance and asset management has established him as a leader within the banking industry.
Prior to joining Coronation Merchant Bank in 2023, Abiagam served in several senior roles both locally and internationally. He was the pioneer Managing Director at Guaranty Trust Pension Managers Ltd., provided oversight as NonExecutive Director at Guaranty Trust Bank (Cote D'Ivoire) Ltd., and held various leadership posi-
tions at Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd., Nigeria including GM & Divisional Head, Corporate Banking Division (Lagos Island). He is an alumnus of the University of Benin (B.Sc. in Botany), Paul Abiagam also holds an MBA Lagos Business School, and served as Sub-Chair of the institution’s Alumni Association Committee from 2018 to 2022. In 2011, he was honoured as a Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in the United Kingdom, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria.
concluded.”
Rotimi, noted that the House remained committed to the resolution passed on July 18, 2024, which mandated a 50 per cent reduction in the salaries of Members for six months.
He acknowledged and regretted that this resolution was not implemented by the bureaucracy as intended for the month of July.
The spokesperson noted: “Resolutions of the House are ratified when the votes and proceedings of plenary are adopted on the next legislative day. Consequently, the bureaucracy was only formally instructed on July 23, 2024.
“This delay in implementation was thus due to necessary administrative procedures and coordination with financial institutions.
“Instructions for adjusting salaries have since been issued and will be enforced moving forward to ensure our pledge is fully realised.”
Rotimi maintained that there was nothing to investigate, as some media houses reported, as the House position on this matter had been provided to some journalists who had reached out for clarification.
“We appreciate your patience and assure you of our steadfast adherence to our pledge, and sustained efforts to earn the trust and confidence of all Nigerians,” he said.
Nume Ekeghe
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
L-R: Group Managing Director, Processing, Africa, Network International, Dr. Reda Helal; Regional Managing Director, West and Central Africa, Mrs. Chinwe Uzoho; Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nandan Mer, and Managing Director, Nigeria, Mrs. Lola Agbebiyi, during a media roundtable to announce the launch of Network One Payment Platform in Nigeria, held in Lagos…yesterday
any form of foreign interference in the ongoing protests in the country.
But President Bola Tinubu has again assured Nigerians that his government was already taking measures to address the pains and also close the gap caused by the removal of subsidy on fuel on the nation.
This was as the British and the United States diplomats in Nigeria have thrown their weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying they are essential to the future prosperity of Nigeria.
Also, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has assured the people that Tinubu was working assiduously to revamp the ailing economy, and that they should expect positive results soon.
Meanwhile, the High Command of the Nigerian Army, has explained how troops deployed to control the nationwide protest killed one protester in Zaria, Kaduna State, albeit in error and that the errant officer had been taken in for investigation.
Yet, more reactions have continued to trail the violent outcome of the nationwide hunger protest, especially in the northern part of the north.
In a related development, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has asked the federal government to reverse all policies that have resulted in the economic crisis the country was facing, even as police detectives and other security agents, last night, raided the Labour House, NLC Headquarters in Abuja.
Idris, who had met the diplomatic community on the heel of the violent outcome of the protests in some parts of the country, emphasised that security forces were under clear instruction to exercise maximum restraint and adhere to international standards in managing civil protests.
Breaking down the decision that led to the investigation of the protests, the minister stressed that when faceless groups issued a protest notice, government felt it was not the time for such as rather focus should be on allowing its various initiatives and interventions to manifest fully.
He added since government realised that a protest of this nature, that lacked coherent demands or an organisational structure could be hijacked by subversive elements.
It therefore, mobilised to engage fully and freely with traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, civil society organisations, among others, to appeal to them to shelve the planned protest and instead embrace dialogue.
"Very sadly, that is what we have seen play out. Regrettably, what began as a peaceful protest in some states and the Federal Capital Territory, was soon hijacked by elements who infiltrated the protest and orchestrated violent activities that destroyed lives
and properties.
“There were reports of arson, vandalism, looting, and clashes with law enforcement agents in several cities.
Tragically, these incidents led to the loss of innocent lives and significant damage to properties.
“In response to these unforeseen events, the federal government acted swiftly to restore peace and order."
The minister stressed that the security forces were instructed to exercise maximum restraint and adhere to international standards in managing civil protests, adding they put in the shift to ensure the safety of all law-abiding Nigerians, and to maintain order, in the last week and were also decisive in their response to criminality.
"I want to assure Your Excellencies that the federal government had launched an investigation into the violence that we have seen in the last one week, to identify and bring to justice all those responsible.
“We are committed to preventing the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents in the future," he said.
However, speaking on the intentions of the government, he said, "It is important to kick off on this note: that President Tinubu did not come to office to cause hardship or make life difficult for Nigerians.
“He has come to office with bold solutions to historical problems; with the determination to correct many of the poor policies and dysfunctional choices that have held us back as a nation for decades," Idris said.
He upheld the democratic rights of Nigerians to freely express their grievances and demand accountability from their governments, noting that since the advent of the administration, it had maintained an open-door policy, where citizens were regularly briefed on the policy direction of the government.
Idris recalled that Tinubu assumed office during one of the country's most challenging periods in its history, where it was spending 97 per cent of all its revenue on debt service; coupled with widespread poverty, rising unemployment, dilapidated infrastructure and insecurity.
He said with the daunting realities, the administration took decisive action and implemented long-overdue reforms to save the economy from collapse.
"For decades, the costly, wasteful and unsustainable fuel subsidy regime had denied Nigeria the opportunity to invest in critical infrastructure, social service, and the welfare of its citizens.
“The President, therefore, had to take a very painful decision to abolish the fuel subsidy and redirect the funds towards critical sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and security, which directly impact citizens' well-being and the develop-
ment of the country.
"The president was not under any illusion that the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and the harmonisation of foreign exchange rates would not come with some transitional pains.
“This informed the decision of the federal government to design comprehensive intervention programmes to cushion the transitional pains.
“We have been very determined about ensuring that these interventions are fully implemented, and bring the intended relief to Nigerians."
He listened some of the measures introduced by the president to lessen hardship on the citizens to include local government autonomy, N70,000 national minimum wage, approval for the suspension of import duties and taxes on essential food items for a 150-day period.
This, he added, was to ensure that food prices came down in the short term, plus a new Executive Order on healthcare, which will suspend import duties on pharmaceutical raw materials and equipment, to bring down the prices of drugs.
Another initiative he listed was the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative to expand access to CNG.
He reckoned that under the programmme, one million vehicles would be converted to CNG by 2027 while 30,000 conversion kits were available for distribution in addition to 120 conversion centres that had already been developed across the country and 500 CNG buses and 5,000 CNG tricycles to be deployed over the next six months.
He itemised other ongoing interventions by the federal government to further cushion the effects of the rising cost of living to include the Presidential Grants and Loans Scheme of N50,000 to one million Nigerians, N75 billion in single-digit-interest loans to small and medium-scale businesses.
There was also N75 billion in loans to manufacturing businesses with disbursement of the loans to commence this month, a Consumer Credit Scheme as well various youthfocused interventions like Nigeria Education Loan (NEL Fund) to cover two million students.
Also, there was the Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDiCE) – a $617 million programme to empower young people on IT and technical jobs that will make them globally competitive and Nigeria Youth Investment Fund; Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA); the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA); National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, while speaking, warned that the Nigerian government would not tolerate any form of foreign interference in the ongoing protest in the country.
The minister said the government
rDAS: CBN Approve S SA le of $876.26m To 26 B AN kS AT N1495/$
million were disqualified.
The result of the retail FX sale to end users through rDAS, was communicated via a circular dated August 6, 2024, signed by CBN Director, Financial Markets Department, Dr. Omolara Omotunde Duke.
The CBN noted that its intervention at the rDAS was in line with the objective of the bank to boost liquidity to the market as well as promote price discovery.
The apex bank further explained that four banks submitted their bids after the cut off time of 3:00pm, while two banks did not provide bids in the template submitted, thus earning them a disqualification.
The CBN added, "All bids with Form Q and unverifiable Form A and Form M on the trade portal were disqualified."
It added that to ensure the transparency of the process, the total bids submitted by banks and all qualified bids for payment will be published on the CBN's website for the information of the public.
According to the central bank, ADBs were required to submit a comprehensive template that contained the details of the Forms A and M of all the outstanding trade backed unmet FX demand of their customers via email on August 06, 2024 between 9:00am and 3:00pm.
The templates were all password protected with the passwords submitted to the CBN after the deadline for the submission of the bids, and the bids were opened and collated, thereafter.
Furthermore, the accounts of all end users were to be funded with the naira equivalent of their bids by
Wednesday, 07 August 2024.
"The settlement for the successful bids is T+2, that is. Thursday, August 08, 2024," the central bank added.
The bank, in a circular to banks, announced a strategic intervention through the rDAS in a bid to address the growing unmet liquidity demand from end users.
The initiative aimed to mitigate the increasing demand pressure in the FX market and stabilise the Naira exchange.
The CBN said it observed a significant rise in unmet FX demands from end users with banks, which had exacerbated the pressure on the FX market and adversely impacted the naira’s exchange rate.
“The CBN has noted growing unmet FX demand from end users with banks. This has continued to increase the demand pressure in the FX market with adverse impact of the exchange rate of the Naira", the circular noted.
The rDAS complements the two-way quote system deployed over the past few months to enhance liquidity in the interbank market, through which over $305 million of FX has been sold to authorised dealers in the last three weeks.
The CBN stated that its policy objectives are yielding tangible results and bolstering market confidence.
It stated that net FX flows rose to $25.4 billion between January and June, marking a 55 per cent year-over-year increase.
This growth had been driven by a rise in capital importation, which reached $6 billion in June 2024, and record inflows from diaspora remittances through formal channels.
would deal with any entity within the country found to have directly or indirectly supported the protest.
But he has assured Nigerians and the world at large that President Tinubu understood the pains and frustration driving the protest and was doing everything to address them.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu understands the pain and frustration that drive the protests and has assured that his government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of Nigerians. He has appealed particularly to the youths and advised them not to let violence and destruction tear the country apart.
“While admitting that there have been many dashed hopes in the past, he affirmed that Nigeria is in a new era of Renewed Hope as the government is working hard, and that the results will soon be visible and concrete for everyone to see, feel, and enjoy.
“Consequently, the president has directed that the security operatives should continue to maintain peace, law, and order in the country in line with the necessary conventions on human rights to which Nigeria is a signatory, as the safety and security of all Nigerians are paramount.
“Members of the diplomatic corps, I have provided you with a lot of details, and some of the facts and figures that reflect where we are and what we, as a responsible, elected government, are trying to do. But this is about more than the numbers.
“The President led the campaign against military dictatorship in the 1990s and believes in a democracy, in Nigeria’s democracy that freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and the right to dissent are fundamental.
“But Nigeria is a country under the rule of law. No one can tolerate the thuggish behaviour of fringe elements and those who stand behind them.
“While the government continues to work hard through the various reform programmes and measures to address the challenges facing Nigeria and Nigerians, it is pertinent to remind us that no nation tolerates foreign interference in its domestic affairs and that of its citizens. Nigeria is not an exception.
“The government would take appropriate action against any foreign entity residing in Nigeria that is found to have directly or indirectly supported the protesters by whatever means or seeks to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.
“Nigeria cherishes and continues to value the cordial relationships that happily subsist between her and your individual countries and organizations and will not do anything to undermine or take for granted such relationships.
“Indeed, more than any time before now, we solicit your understanding and collaboration in the ongoing efforts of the federal government in addressing the economic challenges confronting the country, to achieve a better life for every Nigerian at home and abroad.”
The forex market is also showing signs of improvement and increased depth, with more robust and diversified sources of liquidity contributing to the sustained convergence of exchange rates across all segments of the market.
The official market recorded a turnover of $43 billion in customer transactions by the end of July 2024, with CBN-supplied liquidity representing less than 5 per cent of total market activities.
The CBN said it remained steadfast in its commitment to fostering a transparent, market-driven foreign exchange market, and it will continue to strengthen the market's capacity to meet the needs of all legitimate participants.
are not criminals. We are not thieves. But we will protect our dignity and honour," he added.
This was as stakeholders in the oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy agreed to expose all forms of sabotage and criminal activities bedeviling the sector not minding whose ox is gored.
This comes as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State and House Committee Chairman on Downstream Petroleum, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, yesterday, denied allegations that he gave $1.7 million to the House leadership to secure the committee Chairman position. Participants at the Senate Adhoc Committee probing sabotage in the oil and gas sector, chaired by Bamidele,
from the current turbulence and enter a new era of prosperity, urging citizens to have faith in his vision.
Acknowledging that the removal of subsidies had caused temporary pains, he assured that measures were being taken to close the gap and ensure a better future for the country.
He pledged to make education more affordable and provide loans to higher education students in need, stressing his administration's commitment to promoting the greatest good for the greatest number of Nigerians.
The president, in the video said to have been taken from one of his addresses in July, 2024, stated: "Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there’s no doubt that it’s tough on us, but I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture.
“All our good and helpful plans are in the works, more importantly, I know that they will work. Sadly, there was an unavoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully on line, however, we are swiftly closing the time gap.
“I plead with you, please have faith in our ability to deliver and in our concern for your wellbeing. We will get out of this turbulence and due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.
"For example, we shall fulfil our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students, who may need them. No Nigerian student will have to abandon higher education because of lack of money.
"Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On principle, we shall never falter. I assure you, my fellow countrymen and women that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn.
"Now, I must get back to work in order to make this vision come true," the president said.
Tinubu’s appeal came on the heel of the ongoing protests and criticism of his administration's policies, with many Nigerians calling for urgent action to address the country's economic and social challenges.
He had on Sunday, in a nationwide broadcast, appealed to Nigerians for calm and allow the fruits of the reforms to take root for every citizen's benefit.
UK, US Envoys Support Tinubu’s Economic Reforms, Say Necessary for Future Prosperity
The British and the United States diplomats in Nigeria have thrown their weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying they are essential to the future prosperity of Nigeria.
Tinubu to Nigerians: We’ll Address Temporary Pains, Close Gap Caused By Subsidy Removal
President Bola Tinubu has again assured Nigerians that his government was already taking measures to address the pains and also close the gap caused by the removal of subsidy on fuel on the nation.
He, therefore, pleaded with Nigerians to look beyond the current challenges facing the country and have faith in his government's ability to deliver on its promises.
In a video message posted on the official social media handle of the presidency, the president expressed optimism that the nation would emerge
further agreed that the investigative public hearing should be aired live on national televisions and other media platforms.
Authorities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company also seized the opportunity to clear the air on the recent face-off between the two establishments.
While the NNPCL management distanced the organisation from any form of sabotage and accusation of deliberately stalling the take-off of private refineries in the country, the Dangote firm denied allegation of attempt to monopolise the oil and gas sector in the country.
In his submission, the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, stressed that the NNPCL, “is loyal and
question, I commend the synergy and policing agencies for avoiding lethal force. This is a big and complex situation and we have noted very clearly the commitment to enabling peaceful process and the commitment to policing proportionately.
“And I just wanted to put on record our appreciation of some of the handling. We have a lot of empathy for people facing significant hardship. The level of inflation is significant and I would endorse my colleagues' question and interest in the dialog and the peace building that needs to continue in Nigeria given the hardship that people face.
“But I also want to put on record that we fully support the big and important economic reforms that are going on in Nigeria at the moment, which we see as essential for the future prosperity of the country, and indeed the economic relationships of many of us here with this major power.” For his part, Mills, also expressed sympathy for those who have suffered from the protest.
Mills, however said the reforms were necessary and have the support of the US government. He added: “I also want to take this platform just to express my Embassy's condolences for the loss of life and suffering that Nigeria has seen over the past several days.
“And let me echo my British colleague’s comments that we understand the difficulty that the reforms President Tinubu and his administration have undertaken have imposed.
“We know that these reforms are necessary, and we have supported and worked with the administration as they have carried them out.”
Ganduje: Tinubu Working Hard on Economy, Expect Positive Results Soon
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, has assured the people that President Bola Tinubu was working assiduously to revamp the ailing economy, saying Nigerians should expect positive results soon. Ganduje disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by APC USA team led Prof. Adesegun Labinjo.
His words:
“So, it's not surprising that Nigeria is having its own shell of the problem. This is not the first time. You'll recall that whenever there is a reform agenda, obstacles must be on the way, as a result people must suffer in one way or the other.
“But, in the long run, everything will be according to the plan. We are aware that our president, Bola Tinubu, came in with the intention to introduce reforms.
“Our institutions are weak, and unless you have strong institutions, you will find it difficult to implement whatever good policies you have.
The two envoys also asked Nigerian government to continue on the part of dialogue in addressing issues raised by those behind the ongoing protest in the country.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, and his United States counterpart, Richard Mills, also commended the security agencies for avoiding lethal force in quelling the protest.
The duo spoke in Abuja during the briefing of the Diplomatic Corps by Nigeria Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.
Montgomery, commended the synergy of the policing agencies for avoiding lethal force, noting the commitment of the government to enable a peaceful process.
He said: “Before I ask my full
faithful to the country,” adding that its management vowed to protect the interest of Nigeria in the petroleum industry.
He observed that most problems in the petroleum industry, have nothing to do with NNPCL. "We are faithful and loyal to the economic interest of this country. We are not criminals. We are not thieves. But we will protect our dignity and honour," he added.
The NNPCL boss said it was not possible to frustrate any private refinery because the Petroleum Industry Act had limited the roles of each regulator in the oil and gas sector.
He said, "The NNPC is a company owned by over 200 million Nigerians. And I happen to be the chief executive of this company. The law is clear around what the chief executive of
“So, Mr President is doing all that's needed to be done, and in a matter of time, we'll come out of this because he's working very hard on the economy and very soon we will see positive results.”
Earlier, Labinjo said the team paid a courtesy visit in support of the way Ganduje has been leading the party, saying they cherish and admire his leadership style.
“In support of you and our great President, we said since this country is facing turbulence at this time, we're going there to show our support for our president, for the national leadership of our party and for our great country,” he said.
Continued on page 45
this company will do.
"Our memorandum article of association, the Petroleum Industry Act, and all other enabling, including the Company and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA), which was legislated by this Honourable National Assembly had listed our roles.
"I will wait for the public hearing to reveal certain things. I also agree with the Minister that it should be broadcast live so that Nigerians will hear us. So that all the misinformation that you see today will be put to the side, so that Nigerians will know the truth.
"All of us here see what is happening in the media. Targeted personal attack on my person, on the institution, and we all know how this works. They are deliberate, they are calculated.
Continued on page 44
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
EFCC Progressing at Steady Pace
Faramola
Ajetunmobi writes about the steady progress being made in the operations of
Financial Crimes Commission in recent time
Steadily, a pervasive and palpable sense of sanity and decorum has descended on the Nigerian social circles. While it is not completely eradicated, the gaudy and wanton act of spraying money like it was going out of fashion, which was hitherto the norm in many gatherings across the country, has abated.
Commendably, among accustomed socialites who are notorious for such acts, there is now a paradigm shift, a wilful reduction and circumspection in their obscene predilection. And it is heartening to see.
But this did not happen overnight. It can be argued that the gradual, positive behavioural change towards the naira by Nigerians was effectively catalysed by the arrest and consequent conviction of a popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, otherwise known as Bobrisky.
Bobrisky is a controversial Nigerian figure with a huge social media following and offline popularity because of his transvestic outlook and way of life.
The EFCC must have reckoned that throwing the powerful in jail has a welcome, chilling effect on potential offenders. Thus, going after a popular character like Bobrisky was the EFCC’s way of telling Nigerians that it meant business and was firmly committed to a ‘no-sacred-cow mode of operations’.
In April, the EFCC arrested Bobrisky for the “alleged abuse of naira notes, spraying of naira notes, and currency mutilation, among others.” Indeed, a viral video clip had shown him spraying and flaunting wads of new naira notes at the premiere of a movie weeks earlier.
Dele Oyewale, spokesperson for the EFCC said, “We are very serious about restoring
the dignity of the naira. Though our investigation is ongoing, he will definitely be charged to court soon.”
Bobrisky pleaded guilty to the alleged offences and was consequently sentenced to six months in jail without an option of fine by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The court held that, “The act of
mutilating the naira notes has become a menace, which has continued to damage the country’s image. Enough of people mutilating and tampering with our currencies. It has to stop. His will serve as a deterrent to others.”
Of course, the court pronouncement generated a lot of furore among Nigerians, some of who felt that the court was too harsh
on Bobrisky and scapegoated a first time offender. There were others who thought it was a potent deterrence to others given to the reckless abuse of the naira.
If Bobrisky’s case was an eye-opener that the EFCC was not paying lip service to restoring and safeguarding the integrity of the naira, the subsequent arrest of celebrity bartender, Pascal Okechukwu (Cubana Chief Priest), for the same offence sent a strong warning signal to his mentors and mentees and collaborators in the untoward act.
The rotund and rambunctious hospitality proprietor noted for his lavish display of wealth on social media was arraigned by the anti-graft agency on April 17 on a three-count charge of allegedly spraying and tampering with the Naira notes during a social event at Eko Hotel in Lagos.
Unlike Bobrisky, he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail of N10million. The parties recently explored an out-of-court settlement, while Bobrisky is due to be out this week.
Before the arrest of the two celebrities, the EFCC had announced that it would arrest and prosecute anyone who abuses or mutilates the naira, declaring that its Special Task Force against Naira Abuse and Dollarisation of the economy commenced operations on February 7, 2024, with the mandate to lead the enforcement of all extant laws relating to them.
-Ajetunmobi writes from Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com
Repositioning Nigeria’s Economy and Fact of the Figures
Temitope Ajayi writes about the current steps being taken by the federal government to reposition the nation’s economy
Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, penultimate Thursday in Abuja addressed a press conference and gave a midyear report on the economy where he told the media what President Bola Tinubu’s administration had done in the last year to address some of the structural imbalances in the economy, working with the fiscal and monetary authorities.
The Minister, who will now address a quarterly media briefing on the state of the economy, highlighted that the economy grew faster in the first quarter of 2024 than in the first quarter of 2023.
According to him, economic activity in the first quarter of 2024 was not only faster than the first quarter of 2023, but it was also the second fastest first-quarter growth in the last six years.
Edun noted that the economic growth was broad-based across several sectors, including agriculture, industries, and services. The Minister specifically mentioned that the agricultural sector recovered from a negative position in the first quarter of 2023 to a modest growth in the first quarter of 2024. As the Minister pointed out, the industrial sector also grew seven times faster in the first quarter of 2024 than in the first quarter of 2023.
Edun linked the positive economic performance and upswing to the government’s well-coordinated fiscal and monetary policies.
On the revenue side, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy explained that aggregate federal government revenue in the first half of 2024 was more than double of the corresponding period in 2023.
According to the Minister, the growth in government revenue was due to the reconfiguration and improvement in government finances, with oil revenue as a percentage of
gross revenue increasing from 11 per cent in the first half of 2023 to 30 per cent in the first half of 2024.
Here are the numbers as presented by the Minister : Non-Oil Revenue: The government’s determination to mobilise non-oil revenue has consistently delivered impressive results. For the half-year
2024, non-oil revenue not only surpassed the revenue in the first half of 2023 but was also 30 per cent above the 2024 budget target without any increases in taxes.
National Debt Burden: The Tinubu administration in the words of the Minister has been working to manage and reduce the national debt to create better fiscal headroom for economic management.
In dollar term, Edun pointed out that Nigeria’s debt burden has reduced and the government’s fiscal deficit has improved. According to him: “Our debt has fallen in dollar terms from $108 billion to $91 billion. Additionally, the government has diligently serviced all its loans and obligations with no recourse to ways and means of financing. The government has met all its obligations”.? Ways and Means: In the last year, the administration has exited the Ways and Means debt trap due to better management of the fiscal space, as the Federal Government, under the leadership of the President, has not relied on borrowing from the CBN Ways and Means to fund its obligations. Edun pointed out that part of the inflationary pressure the country is currently experiencing was a result of the past abuse of Ways and Means. The Federal Government has paid back the previous N7.3 trillion obligation within a year of President Tinubu’s administration.
Debt Service to Revenue: In meeting its debt obligations to avert any form of default, the Federal Government of Nigeria, for decades, has been spending more than half of its revenue on debt servicing. By the end of June 2023, the Federal Government was spending 97% of total revenue to service debt.
In the last year of President Tinubu, the country has recorded a positive trend in the debt service-to-revenue ratio. Currently, the debt service-to-revenue ratio has declined from 97 percent in the first half of 2023 to 68 percent in 2024, indicating the government’s strong position in managing its debt obligations.
-Ajayi, senior media and publicity aide to the President, writes from Abuja
Edun
HealtH & lifestyle
Rewriting the Trajectory of Health Systems in the FCT through People-tailored Initiatives
From the medical outreaches to the recently launched medical palliative scheme, ultra modern medical renovations, and measures to reduce maternal mortality, Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Mandate Secretary (MS) for Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, with support of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is bent on changing the health trajectory of the capital city through People-tailored Initiatives
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), times are changing now given the priority channeled towards health and environment under the present FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. Although the transformation is not limited to health and environment, the Renewed Hope mandate of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration certainly rings true in the FCT.
For Health and Environment, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, an award winning physician, was appointed to head the Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) as the Mandate Secretary (MS) and with immense support from the minister, a new horizon has blossomed as they tackle issues of access to healthcare and affordability, which had hitherto posed a major challenge in the past.
Fortifying Transformative Public Health Systems in the FCT
In a groundbreaking move aimed at fortifying public health and environment stewardship, the minister merged these vital sectors to address environmental degradation and public health crises with cohesive and proactive strategies to safeguard the well-being of communities.
The mandate given to Fasawe was cleartransform the health and environment sectors. For the health sector, she was mandated to ensure provision of affordable and accessible high quality healthcare services to residents of the FCT.
With this mandate, her experience as the Chief Executive of the Lagos State came to bear. In addition to the newly instituted policy of regular unscheduled visits to Health facilities, the HSES management has officially visited more than 14 government owned Hospitals, several Primary Health Care facilities and their catchment communities’ leadership, including those in security high risk areas.
According to the MS media aide, Bola Ajao, this confident approach, “open door administration, communication skills, innovative leadership and mentoring has lifted the morale of health workers and improved health service delivery.
“All these have resulted in great achievements: 10 per cent increase in health Insurance enrollees and creation of enrolment desk in all government owned health facilities, provision of free
birthing kits to pregnant women, quick control of Lassa and Diphtheria outbreaks, expansion of the Electronic Hospital Information Systems, and increased Health facility patient attendance.
“Others include delivery of integrated Health programmes like inclusion of HIV/AIDS testing during World Sight Day Celebrations: with 1,000 free glasses distributed and over 500 HIV test conducted, collaboration with other Secretariats for service delivery like the medical outreach at the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) for the Elderly and Disabled.
“Also initiating/ completion/put to use of critical lifesaving interventions, namely, the Emergency Operation Center (EOC), Special Care Baby unit at Kubwa General Hospital (collaboration with USAID), the Oxygen Production Plant at Maitama District Hospital, Medical Outpatient Department and the Library Unit (in collaboration with the German Embassy) at Wuse General Hospital and construction and equipment of 20 bed VVF center at Gwarinpa General Hospital.”
Corroborating, Dr. Fasawe said: “Time and time again, the Honourable Minister has demonstrated that Health and Environment are priorities with Health professionals’ welfare at the top. The evidence are payment of 2023 Medical Doctor’s residency training allowances, clearing of promotion and skipping arrears, and approval for the recruitment of 315 medical personnel in addition to recruitment of 60 resident doctors into various disciplines to lessen the impact of the “Japa” syndrome.
“It is noteworthy that with the support of the Hon Minister, the FCTA city hospitals secured for the first time full accreditation to train Resident doctors to fellowship level in Internal Medicine by the West African College of Physicians.
“ Also because of an enabling environment created by the current administration, successes at the National postgraduate and West African College examinations by our Resident doctors has been very impressive. In the last one year 19 Residents passed the membership while 11 were successful at the fellowship examinations, most of them at the first attempt. This is one of the best records
from any training institutions in Nigeria and the West African subregion.”
Reducing Maternal, Infant Mortality
The Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) has focused on achieving a very significant reduction in maternal and infant mortality in the FCT through measurable multifaceted approach such as community engagement, transparency, efficient service delivery, optimal health workers’ working environment, increased Health Insurance enrolment and sustainable environment aimed at strengthening the six Health building blocks.
Launch of Medical Palliative Scheme
Just last week, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) unveiled a comprehensive medical palliative scheme to tackle pressing healthcare challenges and provide immediate relief to patients, thus ensuring that every treatment, including medicines and tests, is offered free of charge for a limited period.
The initiative, backed by the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, is funded through the FCT Health Insurance Scheme for the vulnerable.
Launched at the Gwarinpa General Hospital last Wednesday, Dr. Fasawe said every patient at the hospital will receive free tests, treatments, and surgeries during this period, adding that “this isn’t something we can do daily, but providing medicines for two months can help patients allocate funds for other essentials.
“We realise that many patients are falling ill because their limited resources are directed toward food instead of necessary medicines. Thus, the palliative means treating symptoms or providing a temporary solution before the overarching problem is resolved”.
Dr Fasewe expressed confidence in the scheme’s sustainability and encouraged
patient registration to ensure ongoing access to free healthcare.
Also speaking, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, lauded the FCTA and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare collaboration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership, just as he listed ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare, including the recent inauguration of the National Emergency Medical Transportation Committee and the expansion of primary healthcare centres.
Medical Outreaches
One community at a time, the mandate secretary has been carrying out medical outreaches that are citizen-tailored to meet almost all their healthcare needs. The most recent was at Kuje community where she keyed into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to extend free medical outreach to more than 1000 residents of Kuje community while also championing cleaner energy with the 500 smart gases distributed.
Stressing that the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was working to improve health and well-being of citizens, Dr. Fasawe said the outreach keyed into his Renewed Hope Agenda as this government does not care about your party affiliation, age, sex or religion.
At the medical outreach were different wings including antenatal care for pregnant women, general outpatients care, pediatrics, eye and dental care, nutrition services, HIV, hepatitis tests, follow-up care, surgery and even pharmacy. There was also health insurance for pregnant women in addition to the already ongoing insurance for FCT residents at a token of N1,000 only.
Ultra Modern Medical Renovations
The Minister’s landmark capacity projects have also been felt in Health as an Ultra Modern Abuja Central Medical Stores (ACMS) has been built in collaboration with partners. Also, across all the 14 FCTA owned Hospitals, at least three call rooms per hospital has been comprehensively renovated and furnished by this administration.
Essentially, the HSES team under the Mandate Secretary is poised to continuously deliver a healthcare services that are accessible and affordable.
The newly renovated call rooms
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammed Ali Pate with Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) as the Mandate Secretary, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe
Prof Pate and Dr. Fasawe on a ward round during the medical palliative at the Gwarinpa General Hospital in Abuja, last Wednesday
Dr. Fasawe with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike after her appointment as Mandate Secretary Health Services and Environment Secretariat
President Bola Tinubu seems to have taken a courageous path that many of his predecessors feared to take. But how he manages the challenges he meets along the path will either make or mar his administration, writes SERIKI ADINOYI
TINUBU: THE AUDACITY OF COURAGE
Everyone waited with so much anticipation. It’s been three days, lives had been lost and properties destroyed but the protesters won’t relent; they were hungry and angry, they wanted to hear the President talk to them.
That was the picture of the recent #EndBadGovernance# protest in Nigeria when it entered day-three. It was supposed to be peaceful protest but was soon hijacked by thugs in Kano and some other Northern states. The protesters went wild, destroyed and looted shops and government properties, they flagged Russian flags in Kano in fierce confrontation against the nation, they clashed with security personnel and expectedly several persons died.
“For how long shall this continue before the President will talk to us”, the people queried. Then, a tentative relief came when the President’s spokesman announced in a statement that the President was going to speak to the nation in a broadcast the following morning.
Nigerians waited with bated breath; some with high hopes and others with anger and despair. They were already glued to their televisions and radios before 7am time of the broadcast on Sunday morning. Many refused to go to church; they needed to hear him speak to their agitation and give direction out of the deteriorating situation.
They waited to hear that the President has directed a task force to go into the markets to force traders to sell foodstuffs at affordable price. They wanted to hear that he has reversed the removal of petrol subsidy. They wanted to hear that electricity tariff has been completely abolished. They wanted to hear him declare free education to Nigerian students.
Then, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu finally showed up. “My fellow Nigerians”, he called. “I speak to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, aware of the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states.”
He acknowledged that the protesters were young Nigerians who desired a better and more progressive country where their dreams, hopes, and personal aspirations would be fulfilled. He also expressed pain that they had to die in the protest.
While commiserating with their families, he said he was working for a country where each person will enjoy the peace, freedom, and meaningful livelihood that only democratic good governance can provide. One that is open, transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people.
He added that some of the hard decisions he made were to set the nation on a right path.
“For decades, our economy has remained anaemic and taken a dip because of many misalignments that have stunted our growth. Just over a year ago, our dear country, Nigeria, reached a point where we couldn’t afford to continue the use of temporary solutions to solve long-term problems for the sake of now and our unborn generations. I therefore took the painful yet necessary decision to remove fuel subsidies and abolish multiple foreign exchange systems which had constituted a noose around the economic jugular of our nation and impeded our economic development and progress.
“These actions blocked the greed and the profits that smugglers and rent-seekers made. They also blocked the undue subsidies we had extended to our neighbouring countries to the detriment of our people, rendering our economy prostrate. These decisions I made were necessary if we must reverse the decades of economic mismanagement that didn’t serve
us well. Yes, I agree, the buck stops on my table. But I can assure you that I am focused fully on delivering the governance to the people – good governance for that matter”, the President said, reeling out many other steps his administration has taken to save the economy.
He said, “In the past 14 months, our government has made significant strides in rebuilding the foundation of our economy to carry us into a future of plenty and abundance. On the fiscal side, aggregate government revenues have more than doubled, hitting over 9.1 trillion Naira in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 due to our efforts at blocking leakages, introducing automation, and mobilising funding creatively without additional burden on the people. Productivity is gradually increasing in the non-oil sector, reaching new levels and taking advantage of the opportunities in the current economic ambience.
“Coming from a place where our country spent 97% of all our revenue on debt service; we have been able to reduce that to 68% in the last 13 months. We have also cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5billion without any adverse impact on our programmes.
“This has given us more financial freedom and the room to spend more money on you, our citizens, to fund essential social services like education and healthcare. It has also led to our State, and Local Governments receiving the highest allocations ever in our country’s history from the Federation Account.
“We have also embarked on major infrastructure projects across the country. We are working to complete inherited projects critical to our economic prosperity, including roads, bridges, railways, power, and oil and gas developments. Notably, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway projects will open up 16 connecting states, creating thousands of jobs and boosting economic output through trade, tourism and cultural integration “Our once-declining oil and gas industry is experiencing a resurgence on the back of the reforms I announced in May 2024 to address the gaps in the Petroleum Industry Act. Last month, we increased our oil production to 1.61million barrels per day, and our gas assets are receiving the attention they deserve. Investors are coming back, and we have already seen two Foreign Direct Investments signed of over half a billion dollars since then.”
Adinoyi
writes from Jos, Plateau State
ROBERTO TABOADA urges a comprehensive awareness campaign to sensitive people, including health professionals, to the disease
ELIMINATING HEPATITIS,THE SILENT KILLER
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Hepatitis Report, Nigeria is among the top 10 countries that shoulder one-third of the global hepatitis burden. Every day, 3500 people globally die from hepatitis B and C infections, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) African Region accounts for 63 per cent of new hepatitis B infections.
According to WHO estimates, Nigeria has more than 20 million people living with hepatitis B, C or both; yet more than 80 per cent of the people who have the disease do not know their status. This paints a striking and disturbing picture of an epidemic that has somehow flown under the radar – a severe health problem that has surpassed the combined mortality of HIV, TB and malaria.
This silent killer cannot be ignored anymore. However, the statistics beg the obvious question: “Why has hepatitis not received more coverage”?
What is Viral Hepatitis? Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. There are several variations of hepatitis, and each one is different. Depending on the strain (A, B, C, D or E), certain types of hepatitis can clear up on their own. However, certain strains can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer if they remain undiagnosed and untreated.
According to the WHO: “Hepatitis A and E are typically caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B, C and D usually occur as a result of parenteral contact with infected body fluids. Common modes of transmission for these viruses include receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment and for hepatitis B transmission from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child and also by sexual contact.”
To gain some insight into the actual state of hepatitis in Nigeria, I spoke to Dr Danjuma Adda. Dr Adda is a practising medical professional and public health expert whose personal experience with hepatitis B poignantly illustrates the physical, emotional and social challenges faced by people affected by this silent epidemic. In 2004, Dr Adda contracted hepatitis B in a hospital setting while working on comorbidity clinical diagnostics on patient samples. Six months after his diagnosis, he was struck by the fact that, despite the availability of post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, he was offered none for Hepatitis B. To clarify, after possible exposure to the hepatitis B virus, hepatitis B post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can be used to decrease the chance of getting hepatitis
B. For Dr Adda, this stark reality highlighted a critical gap in healthcare practices at the time. Additionally, the diagnosis came with the daunting task of disclosing his status to his future wife in a community that was, at best, ill-informed about the causes and effects of hepatitis. He also faced extreme anxiety about his future as a healthcare professional. Thankfully for Dr Adda and his wife, mutual courage and support prevailed. A year after the Doctor disclosed his status, his wife was vaccinated, and the couple continue to weather the burden together to this day while Dr Adda is treated, along with their five children.
In 2007, Dr Adda was dealt another tragic blow when his mother succumbed to liver cancer as a result of hepatitis C infection.
Having been diagnosed years before, treatment had not been administered by the healthcare professional responsible for delivering the diagnosis.
In fact, his assessment, according to Dr Adda, was that there was no cause for concern, as “everybody has hepatitis”.
As a public health expert, Dr Adda experienced firsthand the lack of awareness about viral hepatitis –not only among local communities but even among healthcare professionals.
His experiences prompted him to establish a charity to drive better access to diagnosis, care and education for patients and healthcare practitioners.
Dr Adda has since served as a World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) Executive Board Member for Africa (2014-2016) and the first African WHA President.
The Doctor’s dedicated advocacy and hard work are invaluable. However, he cannot win the fight alone.
Taking control of the hepatitis epidemic in Nigeria and the rest of Africa calls for cooperation from the public and private sectors, local communities and funding organisations. The lack of continuous medical education among healthcare professionals – particularly in addressing diagnosis – compounds the problem in Nigeria. According to accounts from Dr Adda, many doctors and nurses still rely on outdated knowledge from medical school, unaware of current guidelines and treatments for hepatitis.
The shortfall among healthcare providers reveals a significant gap in knowledge dissemination. This is why updated guidelines from organisations like WHO and EASL (The European Association for the Study of the Liver) often do not reach the frontlines, leaving many healthcare workers ill-equipped to manage and advise on hepatitis effectively.
To address these challenges, community-based
awareness programmes and testing initiatives are crucial. Media platforms like radio and television may significantly increase public knowledge about viral hepatitis. NGOs and local health organisations also have a vital role to play in driving awareness and encouraging voluntary testing – especially in underserved communities. Additionally, in partnership with private sector stakeholders, healthcare providers and the public, the Nigerian government should have more open discussions about taking coordinated action against viral hepatitis.
Practically, this would require innovative approaches to funding, streamlined diagnostics laboratory infrastructure and prioritising access to testing and care for all Nigerian patients, even in the most remote communities.Continuous medical education for healthcare professionals must be prioritised to ensure the patients’ first and most important contact points are up-to-date with the latest guidelines and treatments. Addressing hepatitis as a public health priority is essential to reducing the alarming mortality and morbidity rates in Nigeria. By enhancing awareness, creating robust education initiatives and collaborating to improve healthcare infrastructure, we can move closer to achieving WHO's 2030 targets of diagnosing 90 per cent of individuals with hepatitis and treating 80 per cent of those diagnosed.
As individuals, each of us has a role to play. And Dr Danjuma Adda’s inspiring journey proves that a single voice can make a significant impact. Imagine if we added just a few million more voices to remind our communities that everyone deserves to get tested for a better chance at life, and where treatment is needed, everyone deserves access to lifesaving care.
Taboada,
Network Lead, Anglo West Africa at Roche Diagnostics, with input from Dr Danjuma Adda, Public Health expert and past President, the World Hepatitis Alliance
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
COMBATING RISING CASES OF RENAL FAILURE
Government should lighten the burden of renal failure which is becoming a health emergency
The rising incidence of renal failure in the country is becoming rather alarming. This affliction affects all age grades. Only recently, former President Olusegun Obasanjo disclosed that about 15 per cent of adult Nigerians have kidney failure that cannot be reversed. “I have also been informed that the prevalence of kidney failure in Africa is higher than anywhere else in the world as an average African is four times more likely to develop kidney problem than a Caucasian or Mediterranean race,” said Obasanjo who sought legislative intervention to support patients with kidney disease, and combat the emerging organ trafficking in the country.
As the organ that helps to filter waste products from the blood and regulates electrolyte balance and red-blood cell production, the kidney is vital for human survival. Yet it is an organ most Nigerians know little or nothing about. This is because renal failure does not attract the kind of attention focused on medical issues like malaria, HIV/ AIDS and tuberculosis despite the fact that a chunk of the population is afflicted by the scourge. Until now, renal failure was viewed as an elitist ailment because it was largely associated with the rich and a certain lifestyle characterised by unchecked appetite for processed foods and consumption of alcohol. But since post-mortem examinations are hardly performed on the causes of the death for poor people, such presumption hides the actual reality.
Government should
The starting point should be investment in preventive healthcare which should include massive public enlightenment on the likely causes of renal-related diseases. Emphasis should also be placed on periodic medical tests as early detection could help check deterioration. Also, government should tackle the menace of fake drugs, and check the unregulated sale and consumption of herbal mixtures publicly displayed at motor parks, in buses, at workplaces and even residential areas as chemical composition of most of these herbal drugs are not only unknown, but there are also no proven tests to determine their side effects.
tackle the menace of fake drugs, and check the unregulated sale and consumption of herbal mixtures publicly displayed at motor parks, in buses, at workplaces
T H I S D AY
EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU
DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
Today, this silent epidemic now cuts across all social strata due to a number of factors some of which include the use of fake drugs, unregulated or long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, inadequate enlightenment on the causes of kidney-related diseases, and lack of periodic medical check-ups. We therefore call on government and other stakeholders to rise up to this new threat against the well-being of Nigerians.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
While we hope that NAFDAC will wake up to its responsibility in this regard, much more importantly, there is an urgent need for proper funding of the health sector. There are currently reports that Nigeria does not have enough nephrologists and adequate functional dialysis centers to cater for the increasing number of victims of renal failure. Even the few dialysis centers that exist are located in urban areas thereby denying victims of renal failures in rural areas access to treatment. This calls for the expansion of medical infrastructure across the country and the urgent need for capacity building to be able to cope with the threat.
Policy measures that would encourage massive private sector investment in the health sector, especially in the area of establishing world class medical centers, should be initiated. However, one issue that needs to be addressed in tackling this silent but rapidly expanding epidemic is the prohibitive cost of treatment. For a nation where the minimum monthly wage of N70,000 remains a problem, three to five dialysis a week is practically impossible for many patients. We therefore agree with Obasanjo that government at all levels must subsidise the cost of treatment of this medical condition afflicting large numbers of our population. For, as the saying goes, a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.
Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.
THE ATTACK ON BOMAI’S HOUSE
It is most condemnable by singling out Senator Ibrahim Bomai’s house for attack in Potiskum during the recent nationwide protests on 1st August 2024.The protesters did not conceive as part of their plan to attack the residence of Senator Bomai as the routes followed by them were far away from his residence. But some persons who are not happy with the electoral successes of the senator that comprise supporters of a former senator, some elements in the APC who had worked against the party at the last general elections for his re-election, and supporters of candidates of other parties who lost against Senator Bomai colluded and orchestrated the attack on his house.
It is glaring that the attack on the residence of Senator Bomai was driven by personal hatred because of the four houses of prominent politicians in his area it was only his own that was attacked.
It is incontestable that no elected representative of Yobe South has performed better in terms of bringing development and economic empowerment to his people like Senator Bomai since the advent of the current democratic dispensation in 1999.
One can comfortably say that what Senator Bomai did to his people of Yobe South in his first tenure has surpassed the combined work of all other legislators of the Zone since 1999. This is
also a man with a large heart who has shown sympathy for the suffering of the common man long before joining politics through his legendary distribution of food and other individual assistance to his people.
It is unfortunate that his political opponents who are jealous of his electoral successes and afraid of his rising political career instigated misguided and ignorant elements to write a petition to INEC for his recall after failing to pull him down at the last primary and general elections, masquerading under the guise of the ongoing protests.
Senator Bomai cannot be discouraged and neither will he be distracted by the sinister activities of political detractors both within and outside the APC to bring him down. He is firmly resolved and committed to bringing more dividends of democracy to the good people of Yobe South.
We the patriotic people of Yobe South are proud of Senator Bomai and we shall continue to support him as a progressive, exemplary politician and a man of vision in his mission of bringing massive socio economic infrastructure in Yobe South.
Abubakar Madu Bukar, Abuja
There are also many other 'tv' coins, including Star Trek coins, I have one, or Star Wars coins if you have gone to the dark side. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia WHO COINED THE EXPRESSION 'IT'S A STRANGE WORLD'?
Who would steal a child's toy or actually an adult's investment? Someone who likes the tv show 'Bluey' a lot or the coins he was featured on. A worker is accused of stealing 64,000 of the A$1 coins which would cost A$600,000 to buy. It does make you wonder about some people's thinking, are they just making a criminal profit selling them online? Selling the coins one by one would take forever and someone would notice and report them. Of course most criminals are dumb. Other criminals are cruel, ripping off children. What punishment is appropriate, time in a prison cell with only 'Bluey' on the TV.
Hardship Protests: Telcos Count Losses, Insist Subscribers Must Complete NIN-SIM
As the Hardship protests across the country enter into its eight-day today, telecoms operators have started counting their losses, saying the telecoms industry has suffered both social-economic and financial losses running into trillions of naira.
Although President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in his nationwide broadcast on Sunday, called on protesters to put an end to the protests, Nigerians are of the view that Tinubu’s Sunday broadcast did not address the demands of the protesters, which include eradication of insecurity, return of fuel subsidy, and reduction in poverty and hunger, among others.
Raheem Akingbolu
As Nigeria and Nigerians count their losses in the aftermath of the ongoing hunger protest, top communications experts and fellows of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), including the former President, of African Public Relations Association (APRA), Yomi Badejo-Okusanya and the former Head of Corporate Affairs of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Kayode Akinyemi, have faulted the federal government’s approach to communication matter and called for more strategic and purpose-driven mechanism in passing its message across to members of the public.
Speaking on The Morning Show, an ARISE Television current affairs
Citing the one day closure of all call centres and customer experience centres across the country; the destruction of customer experience centre facilities; the burning of Kano Digital Centre that was built by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); and the cutting of fibre cable infrastructure that affected connectivity services of 9mobile across the country among others, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), and spokesperson for telecoms operators, Gbenga Adebayo, said the accumulation of the losses suffered by telecoms operators, ran into trillions of naira, to say the least.
programme, which was monitored by THISDAY, at the peak of the protest, Badejo-Okusanya argued that successive administrations in Nigeria have, over the years, failed to see communication as a key component of governance.
According to him, communication is a deliberate action that people in government should work at, rather than stumbling on it. While tracing the current crisis to May 2023 when the Tinubu administration removed subsidy on fuel and merged the multiple rates for the naira against the dollar into a single rate, the expert stated that the communication plan ought to have been put in place immediately instead of adopting a reactionary approach.
According to him, aside the financial losses, there is also the socio-economic cost, where telecoms subscribers and staff of the customer experience centres whose facilities were vandalised, also suffered emotional trauma when they were harassed by the protesters during the destruction of the centres.
“We cannot put all the losses into monetary values, but I can assure you that what was lost ran into trillions of naira, with negative impact on the operators and the subscribers. During the period were all call centres and experience centres were shutdown, people could not carry out their enrolment exercise for the National
Badejo-Okusanya said: “Looking at the circumstances that surrounded the subsidy removal, it’s difficult to blame the President but the communication approach was poor. Shortly after the removal, my firm carried out a survey on the action and most respondent agreed that government meant well but unfortunately there was no intentional plan to communicate the issues around the removal.”
Though Badejo-Okusanya admitted that prior to the protest, the government engaged a few stakeholders, including the traditional rulers, he observed that the effort didn’t resonate with the masses because it was reactionary at a time the atmosphere was already tense.
Identification Number (NIN) and they were unable to link their NIN to their Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards,” Adebayo said, while describing the losses as monumental.
He however called on telecoms subscribers who were yet to complete the NIN-SIM linkage exercise, to do so without further delay, warning that the NCC will revisit it, even though it has ordered telecoms operators to reactivate all SIM cards that were disconnected recently.
“The federal government is serious about the NIN-SIM linkage in order to address insecurity in the country, and NCC would continue to enforce it, until Nigerians have
“Leadership is about moving people forward, leadership is about giving people direction, leadership is about pointing to where people are going and communication is a key component in all these. Unfortunately, a lot of people are missing this part; they assume that when you are speaking or looking into the camera, you are communicating. Yes, they want to communicate about the government and about governance but they are not strategic. Communication should be deliberate, it should be intentional and it must be built over a period of time and it must be from layer to layer.
“Yes, we see many government’s spokesmen coming on radio
completely linked their NIN to their SIM cards. The recent order to reactivate all deactivated SIM cards is temporal, in order to avoid building up further tension that had already been created by the protesters. As soon as it is over, NCC will surely revisit the NIN-SIM linkage exercise, and any subscriber that refuses to link his or her NIN, will be disconnected in the future. So I will advise subscribers who are yet to link their NIN to do so now to avoid future agitation,” Adebayo said.
Worried about the losses incurred, especially with the burning of the Kano Digital Centre, the Minster of Communications,
and television and even in the newspapers but in most cases it is like a cacophony of voices but not resonating. The question we should ask ourselves is what is reputation? Reputation is what people think about you, what they feel your character is. In all these, trust is key and when there is trust deficit, there is nothing one can do. In Nigeria, there is a trust deficit that has existed for a long period. So, what does trust deficit bring about; a right ownership. For instance, as people were planning to go on protest, the government made an attempt to avert it but it didn’t work because people didn’t find ownership in the whole process,” Badejo-Okusanya said.
Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who lamented such massive destruction, said billions of naira was lost to the burning of the entire building, including the installed computer systems and other appliances.
Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who also lamented the destruction and looting of the ICT hub, called on protesters to restrain from further destroying public facilities. Meanwhile, 9mobile which was mostly affected by the cable infrastructure cuts, said it has restored connectivity to some areas, while still working to achieve full restoration of the affected infrastructure.
Speaking on the ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra of the current administration, the former APRA President, described hope as intangible but pointed out that it could be made tangible with effective communication. On the way forward, he urged governments at all levels to always recruit communications experts to manage their communication and not quacks, who are not trained in the art of communication. For Akinyemi, to avert such a crisis in governance, there is a need for the government to have a crisis communication plan in place as soon as they assume office.
Emma Okonji
Bamiduro: African Mobility Industry Has Huge Growth Potential
CEO and Co-founder, MAX, Mr. Adetayo Bamiduro, speaks about the huge growth potential in the African mobility industry and how MAX is leveraging emerging technologies to further unlock the potentials. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts:
As a mobility company, how will you describe the future of mobility in Nigeria and Africa as a continent, and what prospects do you foresee?
The future of mobility in Nigeria and Africa is quite promising. Mobility is fast evolving around the world and Africa as a continent is not lagging behind. Over the years, we have seen the growth of ride hailing technology on the African continent and we have also seen the rise of Electric Vehicles (EVs) operating in cities like Lagos in Nigeria and in Rwanda. Again, we can see the rise in collaboration between Fintechs and financial institutions to develop the mobility industry. MAX on its part, is transforming mobility on the continent and we are changing the way drivers do have access to vehicles and we are making it a lot easier for drivers to be able to finance or rent commercial vehicles for their mobility business, which ranges from electric vehicles to electric motorcycles and electric tricycles.
MAX is celebrating nine years of offering quality services in the mobility sector. What impact has it created on businesses and the Nigerian economy since its inception?
So MAX is solving critical challenges in the mobility industry in Nigeria and Africa. MAX started logistics business in 2015, which is nine years ago. Together with my co-founder, we started the business while we were in the university, studying for our Masters Degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA, and in the past nine years, we have used technology and innovation to solve real challenges in the mobility industry. We started as a logistics company, providing last-mile delivery services to customers, which includes small businesses, large corporate organisations and e-commerce companies. Much later, we realised that drivers were facing some critical challenges in getting access to vehicles through which they could do mobility business and earn a living for themselves. So at that point, MAX shifted focus to help drivers have access to vehicles, through our structured finance model, and till date, MAX has supported over 45, 000 drivers, with a large fleet size across three countries, Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon, covering 18 cities in West Africa.
What could have motivated you and your co-founder to establish a mobility company from the university campus in the days of your Masters Degree programme?
The key motivation for us then, was to address the identified gap in the mobility business and to tap into the enormous growth potential in the African mobility business. Africa has the largest population of young people who are smart and energetic, and looking for access to finance to achieve their dreams. So we saw the huge potential for mobility business in Africa at that time, especially in transportation sector, and we decided to focus on the mobility business in the transport sector.
After nine years of doing business in the mobility industry, will you say you have achieved your dreams or close to achieving them?
After nine years, I cannot say we have achieved our dreams. But just like the founder of Amazon said that every day is day one, I will say that we have made a lot of progress in terms of the impact. The potential in the African mobility sector is still huge and we are just scratching the surface. Yes we are happy about the impact we have made so far, by creating over 45, 000 jobs, saved over 550,000 tons of greenhouse gas emission, with our drivers completing over 400 million trips and deliveries, covering over two billion kilometres, but looking at the huge potentials in the African mobility industry, compared with the number of people who need vehicles in the transport space around the African continent, I will conveniently say there is still so much to be achieved and we are just scratching the surface level because the potential in the mobility sector is really huge.
Having operated successfully for nine years, how will you describe your sustainability drive and how has it helped the company stay competitive in the mobility market?
MAX has embraced the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles from inception. Sustainability is very key to us as a business and we see sustainability from our business model, operating model, how we utilise technology and in terms of our financing. Our sustainability model has
made it very easy and simple for customers to use our products. Access to finance and credit are big challenges facing people on the African continent, and MAX from inception, was set out to solve such challenges, and we are working with global partners and investors to address the challenges and to create access and ensure that people are able to come onboard on our platform, even though they do not have bank account or prior savings. So from a financial sustainability standpoint, we have done tremendous work there. We are also the pioneer drivers of electric vehicles on the African continent. Since 2018, we have been piloting and designing and testing our electric motorcycles for the African continent and we are proud to be one of the companies at the very forefront that are driving innovation in mobility on the African continent.
Since MAX currently operates in 18 cities across Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon, what are your plans for expansion beyond these countries and cities?
MAX has a very ambitious expansion plan. We are currently in 18 cities across three African countries, Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon, and we are planning to expand to Uganda, Togo and other African countries shortly. We plan to expand to additional four countries within the next two years to cover Kenya, Tanzania and more, and we have a product that is in high demand across Africa.
What are some of the challenges in the mobility sector and how will MAX manage such challenges going forward?
Yes, there are many challenges facing the mobility industry in Africa, and some of the challenges are in physical infrastructure like roads, and governments in Africa are actually addressing them. However, things that have to do with technology innovation and financial inclusion are best handled by privately owned companies like MAX. There are some challenges that do not require huge financial investments to address, and that is where technology innovation comes into play. MAX is trying to ensure that some of the challenges are best addressed through technology innovation.
Africa is a populous continent and Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. Do you see the available mobility channels matching with the growing population of Africa?
So if we think about mobility in terms
of the challenges it solves in our everyday lives, we will appreciate the impact of mobility on our growing population. Most of the important aspects of mobility that we might want to consider are things like safety, accessibility, affordability and sustainability, where safety means the peace of mind that it brings, accessibility means the ease of getting it when needed, affordability means the ability to get it in terms of cost, and sustainability means the ability to sustain it over a period of time. When one begins to think about the roles of mobility in these four dimensions (safety, affordability, accessibility and affordability), one will be compelled to come up with innovative solutions that will meet the needs, and that is exactly what we have been doing at MAX, trying to meet the mobility needs of the growing population of the African people. Probably one will say there are no enough transportation options that fit into the four key dimensions of mobility. In some cases we have transportation options like the motorbikes that are not safe, and in some cases, we have high cost of vehicles that make mobility not really affordable. In Nigeria, motorcycles and vehicles used to be affordable, but today, the cost has gone so high that the majority of people can no longer afford it. Cost of transportation services is also on the rise as well, and that is where innovation comes in, where people begin to think of technology solutions that will make the cost of mobility a lot cheaper for the people. So MAX is looking at reducing the cost mobility by investing in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicles (EVs) that will be a lot cheaper to use and maintain. So we need more solutions to address the challenges of mobility, in line with the growing population.
How is MAX leveraging emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain technology in driving the growth of mobility business in Africa? Technology is fundamental in what we are doing at MAX, and we leveraging emerging technologies in creating solutions that address the challenges in the mobility industry. We have leveraged Internet of Things (IoT) technology in implementing some of our mobility features. We have also leveraged technology to develop solutions that are driving financial inclusion in the mobility industry. We are leveraging emerging technologies to manage our growing fleet. We have leveraged technology to build platforms that provide
comfort for manufacturers and financial institutions, including financiers that finance purchases of vehicles for customers. So we have leveraged emerging technologies to build solutions for fleet management, fleet operations, credit scoring, data wallets, among others, and we have layered some AI algorithms on these solutions to automate our mobility operations across Africa. Today we have exceeded 35,000 vehicles on our platform that are generating data on a daily basis in real time, and these data help us in quality decision making.
How are government policies impacting the mobility industry in Nigeria and Africa?
Government policies impact almost every sector of the Nigerian economy, be it in financial industry or the mobility industry, but in the mobility industry, we can feel the impact of government policies on road infrastructure, especially in the cities, as well as on import duties. For us, we proactively engage with governments in countries where we operate and governments are providing incentives for electric vehicles and CNG vehicles. So I will say government policies are impacting positively on our mobility business.
The federal government is keen about electric vehicles (EVs) that will reduce carbon emissions from the society. MAX pioneered EVs in Nigeria and currently has the M3 motorcycles, T1 passenger Tricycles and T2 logistics Tricycles in its range. What are your plans to achieve this shift and encourage sustainable mobility in the country?
We can see the policy direction government in EVs and CNG vehicles and MAX has also come up with different strategies to accelerate EVs in Africa. To date, MAX has deployed close to 500 electric vehicles across the cities where we operate, and that is in response to the rapid government changing policies in the mobility space. We are partnering different government departments to ensure affordability of electric vehicles. We also have on-going conversation with key stakeholders in the CNG space to accelerate the transition from petrol engines to CNG powered vehicles in Nigeria.
What is MAX vision for the mobility sector and what kind of support do you need to achieve your vision?
The vision and core values of MAX have not changed from inception, but our methodologies have changed in line with global technology trends. Our vision had always been to make transportation a lot more safe, accessible, affordable and sustainable. But the methods of achieving our vision and mission have changed. Initially we were providing ride hailing services but later we became involved in vehicle subscriptions and rentals and financing services, and now we have also added electric vehicles and battery charging networks to the business model. Our goal is to ensure that mobility becomes easily accessible and safe for everyone on the African continent.
How do you see the prospect of mobility industry in Africa, vis-à-vis the poor infrastructural development on the African continent?
Infrastructure is always a challenge in Africa because it is capital intensive, and African governments have a lot to do in terms of investments in infrastructure that will drive mobility business across African countries. Again, the private companies also have a role to play in infrastructure development in Africa. Growth in infrastructure is key in achieving the kind of growth we desire in the mobility industry. So government and the private sector have their roles and responsibilities to foster growth in the mobility industry.
After nine years of successful operations, what is the next plan for MAX and what should the mobility industry be expecting from MAX going forward?
Yes, we have done successful business in the last nine years, and we are coming out stronger with more innovative solutions for the mobility industry going forward. So people should watch out for bigger partnerships that MAX will be announcing going forward, they should watch out for rapid progress in electric vehicles and they should also watch out for new technology innovations that MAX will be bringing to the mobility industry. We will also be opening new markets within and outside of the African continent.
Bamiduro
Growing Support for Proposed Media Bill
r aheem a kingbolu takes a look at the proposed Chartered OOH Media Practitioners Bill, which has gone through the second reading on the floor of the National assembly, pointing out its merits and the tasks before its promoters
The history of the out-of-home industry in Nigeria is an irony considering the fact that it was the first known advertising platform dated back to over nine decades but currently among those in the back seat in the industry’s rating.
If judged by its foundation, it ought to be the flagship of the country’s advertising industry as the hen that laid the golden egg but reverse appears to be the case as a result of many inimical challenges, both within and outside.
Historically, the UAC subsidiary known as the West African Publicity, whose major activity was to produce outdoor advertising for UK companies based in Nigeria was the first known advertising firm in Nigeria. Over the years, the industry evolved and gave birth to other sectoral bodies and opened rooms for specialisation. Unfortunately, the outdoor sector suddenly became the endangered species that has consistently fought for survival and relevance.
ChallenGeS
Among many challenges, the first noticeable setback for the outdoor sub-sector was the quality of practitioners, which influenced public perception about outdoor business. However, this became a thing of the past the moment well-educated people started veering into outdoor business. It thus changed the perception of those who often derided the early practitioners as mere ‘carpenters’.
Like other areas of advertising, it soon became a major contributor to the economy. Of course, technology and digital revolution has also impacted the industry and earned it the respect and recognition it required. Beyond its economic importance, the industry’s aesthetic effect on the major roads and cities, has also made players in the business indispensable.
However, in recent years, out-of-home industry has come under serious challenge, especially in the area of multiple taxation, over regulation, insecurity and destruction of advertising platforms.
To this end, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), which is the apex regulatory body in the industry, and Head of Advertising Sectoral Group (HASG), had on a number of times, tried to intervene to protect the interest of the practitioners in the outdoor business. A good example was when HASG called on the government of Lagos State and Kaduna State respectively, to stop wanton destruction of Out-of-Home
Advertising platforms in the two states. ProPoSed Bill and haSG’S oPPoSition
Following the report that a bill on Chartered Out-of-Home Media Practitioners of Nigeria is currently pending in the National Assembly, the Heads of Advertising Sectoral Group (HASG), had last week distanced itself from the proposed bill and insisted it was unnecessary.
HASG, comprising the Out-of-Home Advertising Association (OAAN), Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN) had, in a letter dated July 31, 2024, signed by its president, Lanre Adisa, expressed surprise that despite “representing the entirety of the marketing communications ecosystem,” the group was never taken into confidence by OAAN regarding the bill calling for the establishment of a chartered body for the sector.
The group stated that while it ‘empathised’ with the association, it would however, distance itself from the bill since it believed the existing extant regulatory apparatus set up by the government was robust enough to accommodate and respond to emerging concerns.
HASG also expressed the fear that duplicating or splintering the existing regulatory framework would weaken rather than strengthen the marketing communications industry and further increase its operational costs substantially.
However, in reaction to the HASG’s letter, the leadership of OAAN expressed dismay that the group, which the sectoral body remains a substantial part of, could take such a decision without its input.
While insisting that the association never initiated the bill, OAAN’s president, Mr. Sola Akinsiku, however, expressed members’ full support for the initiative.
According to him, the bill has become imperative going by the not-too-pleasant fate befalling the OOH sector in Nigeria.
The Association argued that though it never initiated the Bill, which had gone through the second reading on the floor of the national assembly, it is however in its full support; since it will go a long way
in enhancing the fortunes of practitioners and the practice, and bring sanity to the out- of -home Advertising ecosystem.
OAAN noted that, when passed into law, the Bill will go a long way in checking destructions, usually meted out to Out- of -Home Media assets in the country, and the bastardisation of the environment, through cluttering.
“For the avoidance of doubts, our Association has unequivocally and unambiguously expressed our support for the Bill, as proposed by the most distinguished Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe Harcourt because we are convinced that the anticipated Charter will promote sanity, excellence and professionalism in the Outof-Home media ecosystem.
“We believe very strongly that it is in the best interest of our practice and business as well as the industry to have the proposed chartered status. At the least, onslaught against Out-of-Home Media Assets in the country would be protected and bastardisation of the environment with cluttering would stop,” OAAN said in a statement.
Speaking to THISDAY in a telephone conversation over the issue, the OAAN boss insisted the proposed chartered status is meant to bring sanity into the Out-of-Home media ecosystem in the country.
Out-of-Home media assets owners, he stated, continue to grapple with challenges, especially in the hands of government departments that claim to control the practice.
He cited the experiences of practitioners in some states such as Kaduna, Lagos, Abuja and Enugu, where investments running into millions of naira had been lost in the past due to the high-handedness of the regulatory agencies in the states.
“We also know that a lot of charlatans exist in the business. A situation where the number of unregistered billboard owners is far higher than the registered ones is not good for the space. I think the bill is also seeking an end to such practice. Anybody that must practise advertising would have to be certified by the proposed council,” Akinsiku added.
However, there are pertinent question on the lips of many in the industry begging for answers. For instance, why the clamour for another regulatory body for the sector, when there already exists one regulating the entire advertising ecosystem in the form of ARCON?
What happens to the apex regulatory body in the industry, ARCON, in the event of the Bill eventually sailing through?
Besides, how feasible is this development, especially at this time when the Federal Government is under pressure to implement the Oronsaye report? What happens to the state regulatory agencies and even local government council areas, which presently seem to be making headway in its fight for financial autonomy? Does this not amount to some added financial burdens on members since the new development is likely to come with some other financial implications? How would the association address the concerns of industry stakeholders regarding the likely ‘splintering’ and fragmentation this development may bring within the industry? Interestingly, the man at the helm of affairs of the OOH sector sees the fears as not unexpected albeit, unfounded. New developments or reforms, he stated, have a way of eliciting fresh fears though such fears may not be genuine.
According to him, the law is not coming to disrupt the system but to check charlatanism and put practitioners’ fate in their hands.
“ARCON remains the apex regulatory body and we still belong to the body,” he stated.
The OAAN boss argued that the OoH practice stands on two legs – the advertising leg and the other dealing with the platform/locations/ sites/assets.
Akinsiku argued that while ARCON has been effective in the management of the advertising leg, the non-advertising leg has been a cause of worry and challenge to business sustainability over the years.
He assures OAAN’s relationship with HASG, in spite of the group’s opposition to the bill, still stands.
“We remain a member of the group and we are not in a hurry to leave,” he added.
The OAAN boss also allays fears of a fragmentation in the industry, which the proposed body may induce. According to him, rather than divide the industry, the proposed chartered body, which the association is seeking, will consolidate the gains so far recorded in the advertising ecosystem.
He believes the bill will bring order to the activities of local governments and the state governments in OoH practice since it will remove the ambiguity/inconsistencies in controls from local governments and state governments.
As the two parties continue to debate over the bill, stakeholders in the industry have suggested a roundtable talk, involving both the promoters and those who have expressed their reservations to discuss its merits and demerits.
L-R: Acting Head, Corporate Services and Projects, C & I Leasing Plc, Henry Ashaka; Head, Fleet Operations, C & I Leasing Plc, Kate Ukwuma; Deputy Managing Director /Chief Operations Officer, C & I Leasing Plc, Alex Mbakogu; Admin Manager - Huawei Technologies Nig, Co. Ltd , Tang Qi; Team Lead, Fleet Business Development, C & I Leasing Plc, Adaku Emedosi; Procurement Qualification Manager, Huawei Technologies Nig, Co. Ltd, Raji Rasheed Kehinde; Corporate Communications, C & I Leasing Plc, Sweeney Perry; Country Manager, Fleet Management, C & I Leasing Plc, Ayodele Babatunde, after the contract signing ceremony between C&I Leasing Plc and Huawet in Lagos… recently
Visa Set to Bring Contactless Payments to Nigerian Customers
Stories by Emma Okonji
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, and Pick n Pay Nigeria, a renowned retail company, have partnered to provide contactless payment solutions to customers in Lagos, Nigeria. The collaboration is set to revolutionise the shopping experience by offering a seamless, secure, and efficient payment method.
Speaking about the initiative, Vice President, and Cluster Head of Visa West Africa, Mr. Andrew Uaboi, said: “Contactless commerce has gained widespread adoption across the world as it transforms the retail experience for consumers. Our collaboration with Pick n Pay represents our dedication to delivering innovative payment solutions to our partners and bridging market gaps.
enabled transaction made.”
According to him, “Visa aims to enhance the customer journey across the region, and through Visa Tap to Pay, Pick n Pay’s customers will get to experience security and convenience with every contactless-
Visa’s Tap to Pay offers a seamless and efficient payment method for customers with Visa’s contactless chip cards. Each payment made over a contactlessenabled payment terminal is secured with a transaction-specific, one-time code that effectively counters fraud and unauthorised
VDLI Conference Harps on Ethical Values in Society
Stakeholders at the Values for Daily Living International (VDLI) inaugural annual conference have recommitted to continuing efforts in promoting ethical values and moral principles, inspiring positive change in individuals and communities worldwide.
The theme, “Take It Back: Building Today for a Greater Tomorrow” resonated deeply with attendees and speakers alike.
Enugu State Commissioner of Education, Prof. Peter Ndubueze Mbah, in his keynote address, emphasised the importance of integrating core values into every aspect of life, from personal interactions to professional endeavors.
He highlighted the need for a collective effort in nurturing a society grounded in respect, empathy, and honesty.
Throughout the conference, participants engaged in a series of interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions.
During the panel session, discussants reiterated the role of the church, school, and home in restoring values to society was a key topic of the panel discussions.
Convener of the conference, Sandra Ani, in her address,
expressed gratitude to all participants, speakers, and sponsors for their contributions to the success of the conference.
“Together, we have taken a significant step towards building a more compassionate and ethical society. I am confident that the conversations and connections made here will continue to inspire positive change in our communities,” Ani said.
Celebrate Cloud Innovation at USA Annual Convention
The International University of Information Management (IUIM), in collaboration with the Institute of Information Management (IIM), hosted the 2024 Annual Convention Induction and Investiture, in Houston Christian University, USA, recently.
This year’s theme, ‘The Cloud Fusion: Connecting Data, Insight, and Opportunities in the Cloud’, underscored the pivotal role of cloud technology in shaping the future of data management and analytics.
The event brought together thought leaders, industry experts,
Stories by Agnes Ekebuike
and academic professionals from around the globe to explore the latest advancements in cloud computing and its transformative impact on data insights and opportunities.
The convention featured a series of keynote addresses, panel discussions, and question-andanswer sessions that highlighted innovative strategies and best practices for leveraging cloud technology to drive business success.
Key highlights of the convention include: Induction and Investiture, Panel Discussions, Interactive
Session, and Honorary Awards.
During the convention, there was induction and investiture of new members into the IUIM and IIM community, recognising their outstanding contributions and commitment to the field of information management.
Engaging panel discussions provided attendees with insights into the practical applications of cloud technology in various industries, including finance, healthcare, and education. The panels featured industry leaders such as: Senior Lead Auditor at SGS,
Rutherford, USA, Adebola Oluwafisayo Folorunso; Co-founder of Cloud Tech Academy (CTA), Atlanta, GA, USA, Cameron Hairston; and Founder/Director of Women in Big Data, Tennessee, USA, Amarachi Blessing Madu.
Interactive question-and-answer sessions offered attendees the opportunity to engage directly with experts and delve deeper into specific aspects of cloud-based tools and techniques. Topics ranged from cloud security and compliance to data visualisation and predictive analytics.
access. The partnership aligns with Visa’s commitment to providing innovative experiences for its customers and partners and driving the adoption of contactless payments in Nigeria.”
Experts at the recently concluded Titans of Tech Conference and Expo 2024, themed: ‘Tech for Good’, explored the burgeoning landscape of tech-driven solutions, examining how advancements in mobile technology, artificial intelligence, and data science could be harnessed to address Africa’s unique challenges and unlock its vast potential.
During the conference, the convener, Don Pedro Aganbi, hosted a panel of tech industry experts, including CEO, NetAccess Systems, Pastor Lekan Balogun; Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye-Coker Odusote; Country Marketing Manager, AlX Africa, Seun Babajide; and Vice President, Information Security Society of Africa, Dr. Martin Ikpehai.
Odusote, in her keynote speech, cited the commission’s vision to harness digital technology for the good and development of Nigeria.
“NIMC has forged strategic partnerships with government agencies and private stakeholders to improve the Nigerian database of citizens. A robust, secure, identity management system improves
financial inclusion and enhances population data validation, which is the bedrock upon which effective governance is built,” Odusote said. Speaking on economic growth, Balogun stressed the positive impact technology could have on Africa’s economy if it is massively adopted.
In the first panel session, tagged ‘Tech for Good’, CEO, Jidaw Systems, Mr. Jide Awe, noted that technology could be used for good in many ways, including healthcare, manufacturing and agriculture.
Awe spoke on precision engineering in agriculture, and how it could enhance subsistence farming. He said precision engineering in agriculture remained essentially the application of technology to farming to optimise resource use and increase productivity.
On her part, Head, Core Networks ICSL, Tinuade Oguntuyi, stated that technology has the good and bad side, but it all depends on the users. She cited instances where people have used technology to improve cities, creating smart cities and utilising technology to the detriment of individuals and the environment.
Google in a statement, said:
“Today we’re upgrading our free-tier experience to Gemini 1.5 Flash for quicker and more helpful responses. With Gemini 1.5 Flash, you’ll notice across-the-board improvements in quality and latency, with especially noticeable improvements in reasoning
Google has upgraded its Gemini to become faster and smarter in response time with 1.5 Flash. With the new upgrades, users can now access 1.5 Flash in the unpaid version of Gemini for faster and more helpful responses. The upgrades also come with a new feature to further address hallucinations, and expanding Gemini for teens experience and mobile app to more places.
TD Africa has partnered Huawei on one-stop-cutting-edge networking solution that will help Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa to optimise operations, enhance productivity, and drive growth.
Having seen the challenges that SMEs on the continent
face in networking, TD Africa, Africa’s number one technology distribution company, considered it wise that the SMEs got a onestop, cutting-edge technology solution.
The solution kit, known as the Huawei eKit, will empower SMEs with a comprehensive suite
and image understanding. And just like we greatly expanded the context window of Gemini Advanced, we’re quadrupling Gemini’s to 32K tokens. That means you can have longer back-and-forth conversations and ask Gemini more complex questions — all free of charge.
“To get the most out of the larger context window, we’ll soon add the ability to upload files via
consisting of robust connectivity solutions, intelligent collaboration tools, and reliable storage systems.
Business Head of Huawei at TD Africa, Joshua Okoro, said the company remained thrilled to offer such a holistic solution to end the challenges SMEs on the continent grapple with.
Google Drive or directly from your device, which has been available in Gemini Advanced. That means you’ll be able to do things like upload your economics study guide and ask Gemini to create practice questions. Gemini will also soon be able to analyze data files for you, allowing you to uncover insights and visualize them through charts and graphics.”
According to him, “We are truly excited to introduce Huawei eKit as the definitive networking solution for the African market. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to empower SMEs and drive digital transformation across the continent.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida is billed to lead stakeholders to the annual roundtable and the fourth edition of the NITRA ICT Growth Conference that will x-ray the industry and chart its growth path.
The event, which is scheduled to hold today at the Citiheight Hotel, Ikeja Lagos, has its theme: ‘Impact of AI On National Development: Prospects, Policies and Challenges in Nigeria’.
Maida will lead industry regulators and decision makers in the various ICT subsectors, both in the private and public sectors, to discuss issues that will engender growth in the industry, and further position it as the nation’s economy driver.
Speaking on the event, the Chairman, NITRA, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi noted: “The theme of this year conference is aimed at
complementing the various efforts by governments and private sector operators towards a digitalised Nigeria, especially in the area of Artificial Intelligence”.
The event targets to bring stakeholders in the ICT industry to discuss and find ways of accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) growth in the industry as a means of achieving laudable federal government set targets and policies, including those recorded in policy documents by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the NCC and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
“Specifically, the forum will offer stakeholders the opportunities of reassessing and reinvigorating some policies to make maximum impact in the growth of AI in Nigeria. This is a growth conference, and stakeholders will be allowed to speak out on what the growth indices should be.” he said.
A LegAcy Of LeAderShiP: remembering captain hosa Okunbo
ifetayo Adeniyi & Patrick Ochoga
Few individuals have left a legacy as profound and far-reaching as the Late Captain Hosa Okunbo: a man of extraordinary vision, unyielding determination, and boundless generosity.
Captain Hosa Okunbo was a true polymath, excelling as a business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and trained commercial pilot. His remarkable journey through life was marked by significant contributions across multiple sectors, leaving an indelible mark on the nation and beyond.
Born into a humble family, Captain Okunbo’s early life was characterized by an insatiable curiosity and a relentless drive to achieve greatness. These traits led him to the skies, where he trained and served as a commercial pilot, mastering the art of aviation.
However, his ambitions extended far beyond the cockpit. Captain Okunbo’s entrepreneurial spirit soon propelled him into the business world, where he would go on to establish an empire that spanned the agro-allied, petroleum, telecommunications, power, real estate, and banking industries.
One of his earliest ventures was the establishment of Hoslyn Ventures Nigeria Ltd., a company involved in the procurement sector of the Nigerian petroleum industry.
This marked the beginning of a series of successful enterprises that would define his illustrious career. As a visionary leader, Captain Okunbo understood the importance of diversification, and this strategic approach was evident in his extensive portfolio of business interests.
Captain Okunbo was the founder and chairman of several prominent Nigerian companies, each contributing significantly to the nation’s economic development. One of the most notable was CMES-OMS Petroleum Development Company (CPDC), which, in September 2019, secured an $875.75 million alternative financing deal for the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) operated OML 65.
This monumental achievement underscored his ability to navigate complex financial landscapes and foster partnerships that drove growth and innovation.
In the hospitality sector, Captain Okunbo’s vision materialized through The Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments in Abuja, a luxurious establishment that set new standards in the industry. His commitment to excellence and attention to detail ensured that the hotel became a beacon of hospitality, attracting guests from around the world and contributing to Nigeria’s tourism industry.
Agriculture was another area where Captain Okunbo made a significant impact. In March 2016, he unveiled Wells San-Carlos Agro Farms Ltd., a $750 million, 9,000-hectare farm designed to create 85,000 jobs in Edo State. This ambitious
project not only addressed food security concerns but also provided employment opportunities, empowering local communities and fostering economic development. Security was another critical sector where Captain Okunbo’s influence was felt. Ocean Marine Security Ltd., an offshore asset-protection company he founded, rendered invaluable services to major oil companies in Nigeria, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The company’s completion of the 46-kilometre Escravos–Warri Crude Pipeline was a testament to his commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s vital infrastructure and ensuring the stability of its energy sector.
Captain Okunbo’s entrepreneurial ventures also extended to the maritime industry. Ocean Marine Solutions Tankers Ltd., under his leadership, became the proud owner of Nigeria’s first marine tankers, demonstrating his foresight in enhancing the nation’s maritime capabilities. Additionally, his involvement with Westminster Security Solutions Nigeria Ltd., a franchise of Westminster Group Plc UK, highlighted his dedication to enhancing security measures across the country.
The Wells Group of companies, which included Wells Dredging Ltd., Wells Property Development Company Ltd., and Wells Entertainments Ltd., further exemplified Captain Okunbo’s multifaceted approach to business. His financing of the movie
“Black November” through Wells Entertainments Ltd. showcased his support for the arts and his commitment to telling compelling Nigerian stories on a global stage.
In the realm of aviation, Gyro Air Ltd., operators of charter flight operations, bore Captain Okunbo’s imprint. His passion for aviation, combined with his business acumen, ensured that the company provided top-notch services, contributing to the growth of the aviation sector in Nigeria.
Beyond his role as a founder and chairman, Captain Okunbo was also a director in several notable companies, including Joint Marine Environ Guard Ltd. (JMEG), Secure Anchorage Area Ltd. (SAA), Digisteel Integrated Services Ltd., and Phil Nugent Nigeria Ltd. His directorship in Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Ltd. (IEDM), a core investor in Ibadan and Yola Electricity Distribution Companies, underscored his commitment to improving Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.
Furthermore, Captain Okunbo served as a member of the Board of Directors of NatCom Development and Investment Ltd., the holding company of Nigerian telecommunications giant NTEL. His contributions to the telecommunications industry were pivotal in driving connectivity and technological advancement across the nation.
Captain Okunbo’s philanthropic endeavors were as impressive as his business achievements. He believed in the power of giving back to society and dedicated significant resources to various charitable causes. His philanthropic efforts spanned education, healthcare, and community development, touching countless lives and creating a lasting impact.
In remembrance of Captain Hosa Okunbo, we celebrate not only his numerous accomplishments but also the values he embodied. He was a man of integrity, resilience, and compassion, whose life serves as an inspiration to future generations. His legacy is a testament to the power of vision, hard work, and unwavering dedication to making a difference.
Today we honor the memory of Captain Hosa Okunbo, as we recall the profound impact one individual can have on a nation and its people. His contributions to Nigeria’s economic growth, social development, and global standing are immeasurable, and his spirit of innovation and generosity will continue to inspire for years to come.
Captain Hosa Okunbo’s journey may have ended, but his legacy lives on, woven into the fabric of Nigeria’s progress and prosperity. His life was a beacon of hope, a testament to the boundless possibilities that await those who dare to dream and strive for greatness.
As we remember him, we are called to carry forward his vision, to build upon his achievements, and to continue the work of creating a better, more prosperous Nigeria for all.
Network International Launches Innovative Payment Platform in Nigeria
By deploying its flagship Network One platform in Nigeria, Network International aligns with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive for in-country transaction routing, enhancing its local processing capabilities.
The integrated platform provides
FTSE-listed Network International, a trusted payment partner of Nigerian banks, has underscored its commitment to local and regional markets by launching its innovative digital payment platform, Network One, in Nigeria. The platform is now ready to onboard and empower banks, mobile network operators (MNOs) and fintechs in Nigeria and throughout the West African region.
banks, financial institutions and fintechs with a comprehensive range of payment products and services locally in Nigeria for both issuers and acquirers.
“The suite is complemented by a variety of value-added services such as digital, loyalty, tokenisation, enterprise fraud prevention, embedded finance and data and
advisory solutions and many more.
“Network International is strategically investing in rolling out the platform in key markets to effectively serve its local and regional clients and partners across the MEA region,” the company explained.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, the Group CEO, Network
NIRSAL Empowers over 2,000 Farmers in Four States
The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) has completed a mid-year training programme for lead farmers and extension agents in the aquaculture and cassava value chains across locations in Imo, Sokoto, Kwara, and Oyo States.
A statement yesterday, explained that the programme aimed at boosting farmers’ capacities to access and repay commercial loans, had over 2,000 participants, with state government representatives also
in attendance.
“As it continues to promote the Agro Geo-Cooperative approach to primary production, NIRSAL primarily targets lead farmers with the experience and skill to share new knowledge with members of their various cooperatives for its training programmes.
“In Imo State, where no less than 500 participants assembled in two locations—one urban and one rural, the focus was on efficient models for fish production. It was the same in Sokoto State,
while the Oyo and Kwara outings focused on cassava,” the statement added.
Imo State House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Mr. Uche Agabige, lauded NIRSAL for including Imo in the capacity building programme, with the belief that it would complement local efforts aimed at boosting agricultural productivity in the state.
Head of Value Chain Capacity Development at NIRSAL Plc, Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman, said the capacity development programme,
which was part of the Technical Assistance offered by NIRSAL to agricultural value chain actors under its Technical Assistance pillar, was happening simultaneously in three other states spanning four geo-political zones.
According to Suleiman, lead farmers and extension agents in aquaculture and cassava were similarly gathered at two urban and rural locations in Sokoto, Oyo, and Kwara States, and they are expected to cascade the training to an estimated 6,000 farmers across the states.
International, Nandan Mer, said:
“This major milestone took us only a few months to deploy thanks to a local team that worked tirelessly and seamlessly with cross-functional colleagues in various geographies to ensure we deliver on Network One’s promise of innovation, resilience, and agility. “Taking Network One live in Nigeria is integral to our company’s continued commitment to the country and the continent.”
“Network One’s successful touchdown in Nigeria embodies our ambition to establish ourselves as a company that is authentically local in the African markets we serve,” Mer concluded.
As the fourth-largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Africa with strong consumer spending, Nigeria is ripe for a digital payments boom.
Total transaction value in the domestic digital payments market is projected to reach $21.32 billion in 2024, with an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2028) of 10.06 per cent projected to reach a total amount of US$31.28 billion by 2028.
The Network One platform is an integrated payment suite offering both merchant and issuer solutions,
hosted and supported in-country. It relies on a consolidation of best-inclass technologies brought together to provide end-to-end payment processing capabilities in a highly adaptable environment.
Network International is strategically positioning its proprietary technology infrastructure, which is developed, hosted, and maintained on a local level, to cater to the needs of local and regional entities seeking market-relevant digital payment solutions for their consumers.
“Our presence on the ground and comprehension of the specific needs of the local market have enabled us to tailor a solution that is ideally suited for Nigerian enterprises.
“Our capability to establish a hub equipped with all the essential technology not only empowers our clients to enhance their value proposition but also positions Network to effectively contribute to financial inclusion and democratisation of payments, addressing the needs of a large population of consumers across the continent,” Group, MD, Processing, Africa and Co-Head Group Processing, Network International, Dr. Reda Helal explained.
The late Okunbo
FEaturEs
Amazing Talents' Approach to Democratising Access to Quality Education, Curbing Bullying in Schools
Amazing Talents Schools recently celebrated its 16th Graduation Ceremony. Esther Oluku reports that in what can be described as a shared commitment amongst parents, teachers and the school's management, the school is on a mission to promote best practices in modern learning by adopting technology to its teaching model, laying channels for skills development, and setting a standard of zero tolerance to bully across its schools network
Children and parents turned out in brilliant colours for 16th Graduation Ceremony of Amazing Talents Schools in Idimu, Lagos, recently. Parents were seen exchanging pleasantries in the school's courtyard and teachers, dressed in beautiful African prints, welcomed guests in soft tones.
It was a breezy weather for a party such that while many of the 91 graduands were excited about their move up the academic ladder, parents were joyful seeing their children being groomed into proper boys and girls.
One of the parents who spoke exclusively to THISDAY on the sidelines of the event, Mrs. Emmanuella Alieze, said: "My daughter started from this school. The truth is that they bring out the best in your child. They give your child this unique build and boldness that when they go anywhere else, they stand out.
"The fees are okay for me judging from what they are teaching. I would say the fees are even too small compared to what they are teaching and what we are getting from our kids. I have recommended them to other parents and they have see the worth of what they are paying."
Amazing Talents Schools
Amazing Talents Schools, tucked away in Idimu area of Lagos, started operation in 2007 with a mission to "produce children who are intellectually and morally equipped for life, imbued with enough self confidence to play active roles in the affairs of their society."
Since its inception, the school has laid the foundation for several university graduates who have joined the Nigerian labour force.
A Fusion of Stellar Academic Foundation, Talent Development
For 17 years, the school has led the path of tutoring students in academics as well helping them identify their unique skills and talents. The school boasts of six vibrant talent development hubs known as clubs where children are coached into fine tuning their individual gifts. These club include the Ballet Club, the Taekwondo Club, the Swimming Club, the Music Club, the Chess and Scrabble Club and the Science Club.
A parent who spoke to THISDAY said that the club activities gives his children an edge over their peers as it encourages them to develop lifelong skill which they could take up as a career later in the future.
The Chairman of the Ceremony and parent of the school, Mr. Chidiebere Onyeche, stated that in a fast changing world, learning and developing skills alongside academics presents an added advantage for young people as careers have shifted from White collar jobs and walled offices to the recognition, aggregation and monetisation of talents presenting a vista of opportunities to the child as they go on their life's journey.
Speaking on the importance of skill, Onyeche said; "it may not be about the first, second or third position. Those things don't pay the bills
though they are important. These days, your skills, your talents are what makes way for you and just like the good books say, when you are skillful, it would make way for you."
Technological Adaptation
With the increasing demand of farmiliarizing students with global trends in information and communication technology, the school has adopted a computer based approach to teaching. While physical teaching still applies, the school has integrated internet enabled teaching resources into their teaching model helping students engage with modern learning trends.
Lessons and assignments are scheduled electronically. This enables the child to understand the permissible norms of learning and taking examinations online without breaking the honour code. The adoption also necessitated a capacity building exercise for parents in addressing questions of child's right, social media protection, awareness, visibility and parental control.
Mrs. Alieze stated that although the internet can have negative tendencies, it still has posed to embody a wealth of knowledge which children can glean from. Sharing her experience she said: "I would say the Computer Based Tests (CBT) builds them. My daughter, from the introduction of the CBT, found out that a lot is happening on Google. She would tell me the weather forecast.
"I really enjoy it because when they were on midterm, the teachers engaged them with a physical writing homework and the gave them CBT too whereby parents would always supervise them but not tell them answers
and it comes with a timer. So it would prepare them and it has been going well."
Speaking on outlook of some parents to the introduction of the CBT programme, she said, "I know some parents may go against it but the management of the school introduced us to a link called family link whereby you can get to lock your children's tab and you control it from your phone.
"Both my kids have their tablets but once it's 8 o' clock, I lock it from my phone and if I'm not at home, I get to see mails on what the are trying to download and and the app would give you the age of what they can watch and not watch. So for anything adult, it blocks it. So they don't get to see anything that is not of their age. It's really helping"
Zero Tolerance for Bullying
The founder of Amazing Talents Schools, Mr. Eddy Odvwri, disclosed that in line with the school's vision to build the character of students alongside their academics and talents, it has adopted a zero tolerance standard for bullying in the school.
Students as well as parents are informed beforehand of the consequences of any action which has a semblance to bullying. He explained that the set standard has been the guiding principle of the school regulating the actions of the students, teachers, parents as well as the management of the school.
He said: "There are things that are acceptable and there are things that are not acceptable and we stand by it and open our eyes to it. As it is always said, people don't mind what you speak, they mind what you can check.
"So if they know that you would come and check, they'd be much more careful about it. So the question of bullying is a question of sticking to our standard and ensuring that what is not allowed does not happen.
"It is only what is allowed that happens and if what we do not allow happens, there will be consequence and we would apply it sufficiently as a deterrent to those who would want to try us. It's as simple as that."
Odivwri opined that shutting down the operation of a school as a result of bullying is a punishment too high for a school owner. He advised however that to mitigate the occurrence in schools, the management should set a standard to guide the behaviour of students.
He added that as part of measures to deter students from violating the rule disciplinary measure should be enforced to deter other students from attempting
such actions.
"Shutting down schools is too high a punishment. You discipline the people involved. If a child is found bullying, you can either suspend or punish the child. And if it is a continuous thing, you can expel the child to free your other children from the harm of bullying. "It's as simple as that. You don't have to close the entire school because of it. It's not the entire school that is bullying. It must be just one, two or three persons. So what the administrator has to do is to identify those persons and deal with them directly and not spread the punishment to every other person."
Sustaining Excellence in Challenging Economic Times
Odvwri disclosed that what has sustained the school for the past 17 years has been the passion to contribute his quota towards qualitative education in Nigeria. According to him, the journey of managing the school has not always been a very pleasant experience as it comes with its own challenges.
According to him, to follow his passion at a time like this "it takes much more commitment and the passion you have for education to sustain it. Right now there is no light. We are powering our generator. You are almost a local government to yourself.
"You supply your own water, your own electricity, your own security, supply your own road, supply your own facilities but government is very active in collecting tax and your bills. They collect those taxes and they go."
As part of measures to bolster the financial well-being of the staff, he noted that he encourages them to engage in other businesses to augment their income. "I encourage my people to apart from teaching do other things. In fact, I had to also even give them loans to do some other things as a way of boosting their income.”
Setting the Pace for Quality Education System in Nigeria
In his remark, Odvwri noted that to sustain quality education in Nigeria, the government must set the pace for evolution. As the regulator of the service providers in the sector, he noted that the standard should trickle down from government-owned schools to private schools.
Speaking on the prospect of quality education across the country, he said: "One can only do within one's own space. Incidentally or ironically, it is the government that also dictates the standard. They moderate us. They inspect hence they check what is doable and what is not doable.
"My challenge even before I started a private school is, what is the government's own standard? How many public schools have that facilities that we have? Not many.”
The students and pupils of Amazing Talents School during their 16th graduation ceremony in Lagos…recently
Proprietor Amazing Talents School, Mr. Eddy Odivwri
Olamide Agunloye: Transforming Fashion Retail with BLK
With over two decades in the fashion industry, Olamide Agunloye, the renowned founder of Iconola, is now giving back to the fashion community through an innovative retail rental space and service known as BLK, writes Vanessa Obioha
The BLK building stands out on the busy Fola Osibo Road in Lekki, Lagos, with its distinctive yellow and black colours. Inside, an array of white-walled rooms houses various fashion items, from bags and shoes to clothes and fragrances. Like a maze, each turn reveals a new creative discovery, featuring iconic fashion and lifestyle brands.
“We house lifestyle brands that make the shopping experience a bit more holistic. So when people come in, they're able to get almost everything they need in fashion,” said Olamide Agunloye, the brain behind the lifestyle brand, BLK.
Agunloye is a well-known figure in the fashion and interior design world. From a young age, she enjoyed sketching, encouraged by her father who provided her with drawing books, pencils, and paper. Despite being a Science student in secondary school and initially studying Petroleum Engineering at university, she discovered a passion for fashion through her numerous clothing sketches. A comment from her roommate, who often borrowed her textbooks, sparked the idea that she might have a future in fashion. This realization led her to call a family meeting, where she announced her decision to leave Petroleum Engineering to pursue a career in fashion. Despite her mother's concerns, she assured her that determination and success would eventually win over any skeptics.
With over two decades of experience, Agunloye made a name for herself with Iconola, Nigeria's first recognized ready-to-wear brand. Her influence has since expanded, creating spaces and clothes for her numerous clients across the country. With BLK, she is doing something different. Think of it as a Selfridges store in Oxford, London which houses many lifestyle and fashion brands. She puts it this way:
“BLK is retail rental space and services. It’s basically a customer renting space from us to stock their items, but we are also responsible for marketing and selling the products for you. We create social media content, reporting and remissions for the brands so that they can keep track of everything. We only charge a certain percentage on their sales,” she explained. “The layout is already taken care of by us which also
As the recently established Nigeria Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) advances towards disbursement of consumer credit to Nigerians, sequel to the success on its recent Expression of Interest (EOI) campaign for financial institutions, no fewer than 151 organisations have indicated interest.
The CREDICORP is a Federal Government corporation with a mandate to expand consumer credit access to millions of Nigerians. In just one month, over 151 financial institutions have completed the detailed EOI.
This includes commercial banks, microfinance institutions, finance companies, fintechs, mortgage banks, and cooperatives.
Notably, 85 of these institutions are licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), collectively serving over 1.5 million consumer credit customers.
Qualified and ready institutions are being reviewed and shortlisted for the pilot phase of the scheme, according to information from management of the Corporation.
The eagerness of financial institutions to partner CREDICORP highlights the strategic vision and immense benefits of targeted consumer credit under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, on a mission to improve quality of lives, help stem corruption, and catalyse industry.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of CREDICORP, Mr. Uzoma Nwagba of CREDICORP, has expressed his enthusiasm saying: “The EOI remains an ongoing process and is quite detailed. We are pleased by the
saves you money. So you're not coming in with any props or any furniture, everything in terms of that would already be provided for. We're trying to just make it as seamless as possible for the designer.”
Agunloye was very intentional when designing the concept of BLK, ensuring it would not be mistaken for a department store.
“I understand the concept of department stores. I don't necessarily like it just because the shopper goes to what they know. But for a place like BLK, it offers you variety. If you go to a lipstick section, for instance, you have a variety, and then you get introduced to brands that you haven't been introduced to before, which gives a newbie designer or up-and-coming people who are just not breaking into a large market a chance to be in a bigger market. And I think it benefits the clients also because they get the best. They get to also choose what's best for them rather than what others think is best for them.”
The idea for BLK, according to her, came in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was praying with someone, and she told me she had a vision of me starting another business, but it was not Iconola. In my mind, I wondered what other business God
would be showing her if not Iconola.”
Initially skeptical, Agunloye waited four months for proof that the prophecy was indeed not about Iconola.
“I travelled right at the end of COVID. And then the idea suddenly came to me. It was like a light bulb, and I remember sketching the building, trying to get a plot of land and saying to myself that everybody would be under one roof. I just couldn't shake it,” she said.
Not everyone immediately embraced the idea, but this year, BLK officially opened its doors. So far, about 45 brands have been onboarded, with a goal of 150 brands, primarily local. For Agunloye, BLK is a solution to the rental struggles and other running costs faced by fashion businesses.
“I dabbled into real estate for a while where I remodel and manage spaces. I was managing a building where I had tenants. That was during COVID. I realised that without the rental income I got from my tenants, how would I have survived as a designer? If you can imagine how much money the fashion industry has paid as rent over the past 10 years, that's money that could have transformed the fashion industry.”
depth of engagements from financial institutions – especially the leading institutions of each type.
“This speaks to the excitement of financial institutions to partner with CREDICORP to receive our development finance or targeted credit guarantees. Together with our partners, we are
poised to accelerate consumer credit access, ensuring that millions more Nigerians can access the financial resources and products they need to improve their lives, backed by their income.”
From a recent report released by the Corporation on the EOI’s so far, here
BLK alleviates this burden, freeing designers to focus on creativity.
“It is my way of giving back to the fashion community. It saves them from the stress of rent and allows them to be more creative. I'm not able to be creative when I'm thinking of rent.”
Agunloye also embraces collaboration over competition, a lesson learned during the pandemic.
“I always wanted to be the best creative as a younger person, but the pandemic taught me that there is no 'top' or 'best.' Rather than competing, it's better to collaborate.”
Recalling her experiences, Agunloye shared how she used to refuse requests from people who wanted to use her models, space, and other services.
“I was protective because I thought it was all mine. But with BLK, I realized it’s better to do these things for others.”
Agunloye is known for her distinctive building designs, including the first black building in Lekki.
“There are about four or five black buildings in Lekki today, so when I was designing BLK, I didn't want to have another black building which was why I settled for yellow. I'm hoping we will have an official pink or purple BLK building in the future,” she concluded.
are other notable highlights on consumer credit by the CBN-licensed institutions: "Average Interest Rate: The participating institutions report an average interest rate of 37% per annum on their consumer credit portfolios.
“This strengthens CREDICORP’s resolve in designing financial products with its partners to enable lower but sustainable rates on an ongoing basis. Average Tenor: The institutions report an average tenor for consumer credit of 26 months, indicating a growing appetite for lending over extended periods.
“ This contrasts with less formal lenders which may focus on shorter tenors to leverage faster turnover of capital. Average NPLs: The consumer credit portfolios for profitable institutions show an average NPL of 6%, while the average NPL across all other credit is 9%.
“The commercial banks show a reverse pattern from the average (i.e. higher NPLs on consumer credit than other credit), likely due to a wider range of options to deploy their capital (e.g. corporates) and therefore deepened focus and expertise in those.
“These findings underscore the dynamic nature of the consumer credit market in Nigeria and the need for continued innovation and support to ensure its sustainable growth.
CREDICORP will proceed to review the submissions from Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) in line with its governance and eligibility criteria – in preparation for disbursements to commence shortly. The EOI for Financial Institutions remains open for submissions, and can be accessed at the Corporation’s website (www.credicorp. ng).”
Olamide
MD/CEO of CREDICORP, Mr. Uzoma Nwagba of CREDICORP
CRC Credit Bureau Secures Fourth Consecutive Best Bureau Award from CFI
Oluchi Chibuzor
Capital Finance International (CFI) has named CRC Credit Bureau as the Best Credit Bureau Nigeria 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year of this esteemed recognition. The company in a statement said the accolade reaffirms it’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership in the financial information sector.
“CRC embarked on transformative initiatives aimed at fortifying infrastructure, expanding service capabilities, and ensuring robust security measures for our valued clients. Key advancements included the implementation of a state-of-the-art Cloud Web Application Firewall and the adoption of a hybrid cloud strategy leveraging AWS Local
Zone, enhancing scalability and operational efficiency.
“We are honoured to receive the Best Credit Bureau Nigeria award from CFI for the fourth year running. This achievement underscores our dedication to pioneering solutions that elevate industry standards and empower financial decision-making across Nigeria,” said Dr. ‘Tunde Popoola, Group Managing Director/CEO at CRC Credit Bureau.
He added, “CRC also introduced innovative services like the CRC B-C-B API and CRC RAAS (Reseller as a Service), facilitating secure data access and seamless integration of credit services for our partners. These initiatives complemented our commitment to enhancing user experience through continuous optimization of our
core application, SB2. Beyond technological advancements, CRC expanded its institutional network significantly in 2023, welcoming approximately 200 new members. Educational webinars on credit awareness further underscored CRC’s commitment to financial literacy and empowerment.”
“Our success is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team, whose relentless pursuit of excellence continues to drive CRC’s leadership in the credit information industry. We extend our heartfelt thanks to CFI for this prestigious accolade and remain committed to delivering innovative solutions that shape the future of finance in Nigeria,” added Mrs. Jelilat Kareem, Group Chief Operating Officer at CRC Credit Bureau.
OMT Onne Again Receives Largest Containership on Second Port Call
Leading port terminal operator, Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT) has again received KOTA CEMPAKA, the largest container ship ever to carry out full operations at Nigeria’s eastern ports. This is the second visit of the ship to the terminal in three months.
KOTA CEMPAKA, owned by Pacific International Lines (PIL), is 300 metres long, has the capacity to carry 6,600 TEUs of containers.
The Chief Operating Officer of OMT Onne, Jim Stewart, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for ensuring that the vessel was able to berth successfully.
Stewart said the visit of KOTA CEMPAKA to Nigeria will support the efforts of the Federal Government to diversify the country’s economic base by boosting non-oil exports. He said it would also generate more revenues into the coffers of
Chowdeck Announces
Kayode Tokede
the government.
“Again, we are excited that this very large container ship has been able to return for the second time in three months. This is a mark of confidence in Nigeria, in Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and in the professionalism of the Onne Multipurpose Terminal.
“The arrival of such large vessels is part of a global trend where shipping lines are upscaling vessel sizes to achieve economies of scale and reduce transport costs for importers and exporters,” Stewart said.
The OMT Chief Operating Officer also commended the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho and the Port Manager of Onne Port Complex, for making the port channels navigable and for equipping the NPA harbours department to handle such large ships.
“We are proud of this mile-
stone. We started operations only three years ago, and we are happy to contribute to reducing vessel waiting times in Onne Port while also doubling container capacity and enhancing competition to the benefit of all customers.
“We are investing in new equipment including more modern cranes to enable us handle even bigger vessels. We have also acquired trucks and lands for expansion,” he added.
Also speaking, Hussein Abdulrahmon, the Port Manager of Onne Port, who represented the Managing Director of NPA at the brief reception for the container ship, said KOTA CEMPAKA brought in more cargoes on the second voyage to the port than it brought during its first call.
He commended OMT and other stakeholders for the successful berthing, discharging and loading of the vessel.
Exclusive Partnership with Chicken Republic in Lagos, Ibadan
Chowdeck has announced an exclusive partnership with Chicken Republic, an established quick-service restaurant chain and franchise, that will enable enhanced quality, more affordable, delivery meals for its users in Lagos and Ibadan.
Chowdeck already provides logistics services for Chicken Republic in eight Nigerian cities, and this new agreement cements its position as the preferred delivery partner.
Leveraging Chowdeck’s advanced logistics and technology, customers in
Lagos and Ibadan will benefit from lower delivery fees and enjoy some of the fairest prices online.
Commenting on the partnership, CEO and co-founder of Chowdeck, Femi Aluko in a statement said “ This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering high-quality, efficient, and convenient services. Combining our fast-growing delivery network with Chicken Republic’s exceptional offerings, we aim to enhance the customer experience and bring happiness to more individuals across Lagos and Ibadan.
CEO of Food Concepts Plc,
Kofi Abunu also said, “We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Chowdeck. Their remarkable growth over the past year, combined with the forward-thinking approach of their team and their unwavering commitment to investing in partner development, leave us with no doubt that they are here for the long term and will successfully address the lastmile delivery challenge. Our loyal customers around the country, especially in Lagos and Ibadan, can look forward to an enhanced delivery experience with Chicken Republic on Chowdeck.”
WAICA Commends Sanlam Allianz Merger
Ebere Nwoji
The West African Insurance Companies has commended the management and staff of Sanlam Allianz Insurance on the successful conclusion of their merger and launch in Ghana.
WAICA stated that the merger would bring added impetus to their operations and lead to a stronger and vibrant insurance company.
The Secretary General of WAICA, Davis Iyasere, while speaking on the joint venture, commended the initiative and expressed hope that it would
deepen insurance in Africa, particularly in the West African subregion.
He expressed WAICA’s readiness to partner SanlamAllianz as they take the next steps in their operations, even as he congratulated the Managing Director of the new entity, Mr. Tawiah Ben-Ahmed for vigour and tenacity with which he drove the process as the successful merger underscores SanlamAllianz’s ambition to be among the top three players, in both market share and profitability, He expressed confidence that SanlamAllianz would
create significant value for clients, shareholders and other stakeholders as the combined expertise and resources of the new company would provide innovative solutions and services to meet the ever-evolving needs of policyholders in Ghana.
“It is hoped that the new entity has the capability to gain leadership positions in all key markets in both general insurance and life segments, unlock the potential of multiple fast growing African markets and access a wider range of customers, particularly in the corporate segment,” he added.
The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $87.33 a barrel on Monday, compared with $86.00 the previous Thursday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of
Crudes
following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).
L-R: PIL OnneTeam Lead Operations, Chidi James; Pilot Yakubu Ezra of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Port Manager, Onne Port Hussein Abdulrahmon; Olatubosun Ayodele and Jim Stewart, both of Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT), during the second port visit of KOTA CEMPAKA, the largest container ship to visit Onne Port, Rivers State…recently
Investors’ Interest in Oando, 26 Others Lift Stock Market by N97bn
Kayode Tokede
The stock market section of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday rebounded with a gain of N97 billion, driven by price appreciation in Oando Plc and 26 others.
Consequently, the benchmark All Share Index (NGX-ASI) gained 170.46 basis points or 0.18 per cent to close at 97.098.98 basis points. Also, market capitalisation rose by
N97 billion to close at N55.130 trillion.
Accordingly, the stock market Month-to-Date and Year-to-Date performance stood at -0.7per cent and +29.9per cent, respectively.
Analysing by sectors, the NGX Banking Index (+one per cent), NGX Insurance Index (+0.8per cent) and NGX Oil & Gas Index (+0.1per cent), while the NGX Consumer Goods Index (-0.3per cent) settled lower. Meanwhile, the NGX Industrial Goods index
PRICES FOR
closed flat.
As measured by market breadth, market sentiment was positive, as 27 stocks gained relative to 22 losers. Red Star Express emerged the highest price gainer of 10 per cent to close at N4.18, while Oando followed with a gain of 9.98 per cent to close at N33.60, per share.
R.T. Briscoe Nigeria and United Capital advanced by 9.90 per cent each to close at
N1.11 and N16.10 respectively, while Industrial and Medical Gas Nigeria (IMG) rose by 9.87 per cent to close at N17.25, per share.
On the other side, NEIMETH International Pharmaceuticals led others on the losers’ chart with 7.69 per cent to close at N1.80, per share. Honeywell Flour Mills followed with a decline of 6.10 per cent to close at N3.85, while Sovereign Trust Insurance shed 5.56 per cent
to close at 51 kobo, per share. DEAP Capital Management and Trust lost 4.00 per cent to close at 48 kobo, while Ecobank Transnational Incorporated depreciated by 3.72 per cent to close at N20.70, per share. The total volume traded increased by 41.69 per cent to 636.501 million units, valued at N12.770 billion, and exchanged in 7,990 deals. Transactions in the shares of Access Holdings led the activity with 112.620
TRADED ASOF AUGUST 7/24
A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.
An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the
floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
GUIDE TO DATA:
Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 05-August-2024, unless otherwise stated.
L-R: Chairman, Medical Art Centre (Mart Group of Health Services), Prof Oladapo Ashiru (middle), and his wife, Mrs. Idowu Ashiru (4th left), with the awardees during the 30 years anniversary of Medical Art Centre Fertility/ IVF Specialist, held at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos...recently
L-R: LACMON 2024 Convention Chairman, Mr. John Maka; LACMON President, Mr. Kingsley Ekwem(barrister); and Head of Media and Publicity Subcommittee, LACMON 2024 Convention, Mr. Mike Ogbechie, during a press conference to herald the LACMON 2024 convention, held in Lagos…recently
L-R: Chief Magistrate Special Grade, Mr. B.O. Osagie; Chief Magistrate Special Grade, Mrs. Caroline Oghuma; Chief Magistrate Special Grade, Mrs. Taiye Omoruyi; Hon Paschal Ugbome; Justice Efe Ikponmwonba; Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin-city branch, Nosa Francis Edo-Osagie; Mr. Ede Asenoguan; Mr. A.O.Lawani; and Senior Magistrate, Mr. Osamudiamen Afe, during the law week activities of the NBA Benin-city branch held in Benin-city, Edo State...recently
L-R: Executive Director, Coronation, and APWB Chairperson, Funke Feyisitan-Ladimeji; Head of Cash Product, Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered Bank, Henry Otaigbe; and Secretary-General, ICC Nigeria, Olubunmi Osuntuyi, at the Standard Chartered Banking Academy (Cohort 2) graduation ceremony in Lagos...recently
L-R: Head of Public Relations, Airtel Nigeria, Sam Adeoye; mother of quadruplets, Mrs. Abiodun Olayode; and Head of Brands and Advertising, Airtel Nigeria, Omobolanle Osotule, during the official presentation of N2 million to the Olayode babies as part of Airtel Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), in Lagos...recently
Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Dogara Ahmed (right), presenting a souvenir to the Director-General of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Major General GA Wahab (left), when Wahab visited the National Directorate headquarters of the NYSC in Maitama, Abuja...recently
Gamin G Week
Edited by nseobonG okon-ekonG
AfricaComicade’s Gamathon Returns for Fourth Edition
Iyke
Bede writes that Gamathon, Africa’s premier convention for the interactive and immersive media industry, is a major event, attracting an average of over 2,000 unique visitors annually who come to learn, connect, and showcase their projects
AfricaComicade’s Gamathon, a key event for the African video games and immersive media industry is returning for its fourth edition. Running under the theme ‘Thrive’, the convention will be held in Lagos from September 30 to October 5, 2024.
Gamathon is a major industry event, attracting an average of over 2,000 unique visitors annually who come to learn, connect, and showcase their projects. As Africa’s premier convention for the interactive and immersive media industry (including games, digital art, and extended reality), it provides a platform for stakeholders to exhibit their work, network, and seek opportunities for collaboration and funding. The hybrid event includes workshops, industry talks, panel
sessions, pitch competitions, exhibitions, and a game jam. “We are on a mission to build a sustainable creative industry,” stated Oscar Michael, founder of AfricaComicade. “Our goal is to provide stakeholders with the right information and connections to achieve our collective objectives.”
Michael added, “Gamathon bridges industries and markets by offering tailored experiences for diverse audiences. Corporates and VCs can explore the video games, immersive, and interactive media sectors, while industry professionals can showcase their work, pitch for funding, and network with investors. Since inception, we’ve invested over $50,000 in the ecosystem through prototype grants and jam prizes. Those entering the industry can learn, find potential partners or employers, and gain insights through our training and workshops.”
Since its launch in 2020, Gamathon has successfully united global stakeholders and forged partnerships with major industry players such as XBOX, STEAM, UNITY, Rovio, Carry 1st, the IGDA Foundation, IndieGame Business, and Humble Bundle. These collaborations have facilitated dynamic discussions and enhanced understanding of the African video game industry’s potential.
In 2023 alone, over $30,000 was distributed as prototype grants and jam prizes, introducing 2,000+ youths to the industry and publishing 20+ game projects from within the community.
Michael noted that despite these achievements, the industry has yet to realise its full potential regarding funding and investments.
“The sector lacks entrepreneurs, marketers, and communicators, with many outside professionals unaware of its opportunities,” he
Water Minister, NLTF Boss, Others Join Support Group to Highlight
The Tinubu Support Group gathered for the second day in Abuja with prominent members, including Minister of State for Water Resources, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Executive Secretary, National Lottery
Trust Fund, Tosin Adeyanju, Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment, Silas Agara, and Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, in attendance.
The group, which comprises Nigerians from all walks of life, highlighted the numerous achievements of President Bola Tinubu within his first year in office. The speakers identified several key
The National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), an agency established to promote good causes in sports development, education, health, social services, public welfare, and disaster management in Nigeria, has taken a significant step towards revitalizing its operations as the newly appointed Executive Secretary, Comrade Tosin Adeyanju, met with the two supervising committee chairmen in the National Assembly to discuss the agency’s
accomplishments, including implementing a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers, introducing a new electricity bill to improve power supply and granting autonomy to local governments to promote
stated. “Our challenge is to educate stakeholders outside the video games industry, who often hold cultural biases and doubt its profitability, leading to limited support for our initiatives.”
This year’s Gamathon will feature a game jam showcasing African game development talent, an arc pitch providing game studio founders and indie developers the chance to pitch for prototype grants, and an industry showcase for creative outputs. Additional highlights include a tour of Lagos, panel sessions fostering interactive discussions, and a gaming expo. The event will cover digital art and animation, video game development, and extended reality verticals.
For more information on event schedules and ticket purchases, stakeholders can visit AfricaComicade’s official handles and website.
grassroots development.
The speakers emphasised the significance of these achievements and their positive impact on the lives of Nigerians. They urged citizens to remain calm and patient, trusting Tinubu’s
vision for a better Nigeria. They equally appealed to organisers of the ongoing protest to call it off due to wanton destruction and looting witnessed yesterday across the country.
revival plans.
Adeyanju met with Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, and Hon. Chief Canice Moore Chukwugozie Nwachukwu, House Committee Chairman on Inter-Governmental Affairs.
Both chairmen expressed their confidence in Adeyanju’s leadership and pledged their support for his revival plans.
Sumaila described Adeyanju
as “young and vibrant,” capable of adding value to the NLTF. Nwachukwu expressed his confidence in Adeyanju’s leadership, emphasising the need for synergy to move NLTF forward.
He pledged to work with Adeyanju towards achieving the Renewed Hope agenda and commended Adeyanju’s plans, saying they had earned his respect.
The lawmakers pledged to cooperate with the new executive
secretary to achieve greater goals.
Adeyanju, in response, appreciated the chairpersons’ efforts to make NLTF the envy of others. He assured all stakeholders he would consult to ensure the agency fulfils its mandate. This development marks a new chapter for NLTF, with all parties committed to working together to benefit Nigerians as stakeholders are optimistic about the agency’s future.
Cofounders adewale a bdulkabir (left) and o scar m ichael
mr. Tosin adeyanju (left) and Hon. Canice-moore nwachukwu
Cofounders and C eo Dash s tudios, John i kpeme
Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Strengthens Ties with UK Gambling Commission
In a bid to align its gaming regulations with global best practices, the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) embarked on a working visit to the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). The visit aimed at understanding regulatory operations and establishing a bilateral collaboration on information sharing and reciprocity.
Leading the delegation was the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Mr. Bashir Are, accompanied by Mr. Samuel Rowland, Head of Operations and Compliance, and Mr. Faruq Hassan, Manager of Strategy and Global Engagements.
The delegation delved into the corporate governance framework of the UKGC, examining the responsibilities and procedures that ensure effective operation. This exploration included an assessment of the UK’s gambling regulations and the organizational structure of the UKGC, which is renowned for being one of the most advanced regulatory bodies globally. Emerging trends and technologies were also considered to understand what makes the UKGC one of the leaders in gaming regulation.
A key focus of the visit was on responsible gambling. The LSLGA team sought to comprehend the UKGC’s responsible gambling processes and
regulatory policies.
During the visit, the LSLGA team initiated frameworks for reciprocity arrangements, information sharing, and collaboration between the LSLGA and the UKGC. This partnership is expected to enhance regulatory operations, enforcement and promote best practices in gaming regulation.
The LSLGA delegation was received by a team from the UKGC including Mr. Jamie Wall, Senior Manager of International Regulatory Partnerships, Mr. Ian Angus, Director of Policy, Mr. Rab Grewal, Senior Manager of Market and Regulatory Insights, and Consumer Policy Managers Katherine Wilson and Katherine Jackson. Enforcement Manager
Beth Potter also participated in the discussions and presentations.
Mr. Bashir Are expressed optimism about the visit, stating, “Our engagement with the UK Gambling Commission marks a significant step in our efforts to elevate gaming regulation standards in Lagos State to match global benchmarks. This collaboration will undoubtedly contribute to our mission of ensuring a responsible and well-regulated gaming environment.”
The working visit signifies the LSLGA’s commitment to adopting international best practices and fostering collaborations that enhance the regulatory landscape of gaming in Lagos State entrenched with global standards.
Adeyanju, Gbajabiamila Unite to Boost Lottery Industry
The appointment of Comrade Tosin Adeyanju as the new Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund marks a new era in the history of the organisation, both in Nigeria and beyond. This was stated by the Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila,
during a courtesy visit by Adeyanju and his management team to the NLRC’s headquarters in Abuja.
Gbajabiamila congratulated Adeyanju on his appointment, describing it as a divine intervention to foster a harmonious working relationship between the two agencies.
“Your appointment is a divine intervention to make the two sister
agencies work hand in hand as a family,” he said. “Since I assumed office in 2017, there has been friction between the two agencies, which I have tried to address. However, with your leadership, I am confident that we will achieve our goals and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Adeyanju expressed his commitment
to a cordial working relationship between the two agencies, stating, “I am here today with my management team to identify with the commission and foster a collaborative working relationship. We will work together for the benefit of our agencies, the lottery industry, and our country as a whole.” He also emphasised the need for the two agencies to partner in hosting an interactive session with players in the lottery and gaming industry, stressing that this can only be achieved by working together and doing what is necessary and right.
L-R: Messrs Samuel Rowland, Head of Operations and Compliance, Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority, Ian Angus, Director of Policy, Bashir Are, Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Katherine Wilson and Katherine Jackson, Consumer Policy Managers and Faruq Hassan, Manager of Strategy and Global Engagements
PARTNERSHIP RE-ENFORCEMENT MEETING BETWEEN LEKKI PORT AND NPA...
L-R: Port Manager, Lekki Port, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu; Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Lekki Port, Mr. Daniel Odibe; Executive Director, Marine & Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Engr. Olalekan Badmus; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; Chief Executive Officer, Lekki Port, Mr. Du Ruogang; Head of Legal, Lekki Port, Barr. Opeyemi Emmanuel-Olubake and Chief Commercial Officer, Lekki Port, Mr. Yi Chengwei during a partnership reinforcement meeting between Lekki Port and NPA at NPA headquarters in Lagos….. yesterday
Tinubu's Administration
Monies not free, will be paid back as loans with interest States did not get uniform sum, a handful opted out, THISDAY learns
The N573 billion purportedly released to Nigeria’s sub-national governments as announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his nationwide broadcast last Sunday was a World Bank-funded programme to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, THISDAY learnt yesterday.
Tinubu had said during the broadcast that over N570 billion had been released to the 36 states of the federation to expand livelihood support to vulnerable citizens.
He said: “Also, more than N570 billion has been released to the 36
states to expand livelihood support to their citizens, while 600,000 nanobusinesses have benefitted from our nano-grants. An additional 400,000 more nano-businesses are expected to benefit.”
Specifically, THISDAY checks revealed that claims that the federal government released N573,848,799,707.26 to the 36 state governors to address hunger or hardship is not factual as it was not free money but a loan from the global bank.
Many Nigerians, including a senior lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) a human rights crusader and the Chair, of Alliance on Surviving Covid-19
and Beyond (ASCAB), have since the announcement challenged states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to explain how they spent the N573 billion.
However, he admitted that the programme started before now with the disbursement of N112 billion by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to states and FCT to fight poverty.
He stressed that the last tranche of N438 billion was part of the World Bank loan of $750 million which will be paid back by the Nigerian people as represented by their governors.
However, THISDAY understood that the claims which have come in
different forms, all unfairly directed at allegedly setting the people against governors, were not entirely true.
"In actual fact, the money came from the World Bank, FG was merely a channel of disbursement of the loan, since states cannot on their own access foreign loans.
“So it is totally incorrect to say the federal government gave states N573 billion to cushion hardship occasion by reforms embarked upon by this government. The disbursements are in phases and predated this government," a highly placed source familiar with the issue explained to THISDAY.
The NG-CARES (Community
Tinubu Appoints Governing Councils for 13 Federal Varsities, Institutions
List includes Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenko, Nigerian Army University, Biu Also names governing councils for Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of five-man governing council for each of the 13 federal varsities and tertiary institutions of learning. Presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, in a release issued on Wednesday listed the federal universities and institutions and the governing council members to include: Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenko, Delta state
Temi Harriman, Chairman; Adeola Adeogun, Member; Benedict Aguele, Member; Freeman Kasa, Member and Babangida Alhassan Abdullahi, Member. Nigerian University of Science And Technology, Abuja Rabe Mudi Bala -- Chairman, Mr. Akinola Fagbemi -- Member, Rakiatou Bagnou -- Member, Alwel Egwurugu -- Member; and Femi Osabinu -- Member. Federal University of Agriculture, Bassam- Biri, Bayelsa Bram Baifa -- Chairman, Richard Odigbo -- Member, Yomi Johnson -Member, Fatima Owuna -- Member and Christy Akpehuan Omoruyi -- Member Federal University of Health Sciences, Kwale, Delta State Ahmadu Barau Banye Salisu -- Chairman; Aragbaye Oluwatosin Gbolagunte -- Member; Talba Bauchi -- Member; Akaninodo Kehinde Adekunle -- Member and Chibuike Ikenga -- Member. Federal University of Medical
Sciences, Katsina state
Habib Mohammed Ibrahim -- Chairman, Yau Aisha Abdulkadir -- Member, Shehu Kaka -- Member, Ibrahim Umar Abbah -- Member and; Isijola Rasaki -- Member. Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi, Adamawa state Rukayyatu Abdulkareem Gurin -- Chairman; Peter Tanko Dogara -- Member, Amina Ibrahim Ndala -- Member, Owolabi Shamsideen Oseni -- Member and Olufemi Lawson -- Member. Admiralty University, Ibusa, Delta state
Yusuf Mohammed -- Chairman, Sani Ndanusa -- Member, Abdul Oroh -- Member, Mary Okaba Agbo -- Member and Omasan Agbajoh -- Member.
The Nigerian French Language VILLAGE, Badagry, Lagos State Labiru Musa Kafur -- Chairman, Ibitoye Victor Philips -- Member, Bamgbose S -- Member; Musa Ayas -- Member and Ogenyi Okpokwu Emmanuel -- Member. National Institute of Nigerian Languages, Aba, Abia state Victor O. Ukaogo -- Chairman, Anjare Samuel -- Member, David Turuka Ismaila -- Member; Adimchinaka Onwukwe -- Member and; Princess Ify Ugo Okoye -- Member. Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State Awal Bawa Morike -- Chairman, Mohammed Bashir Umar -- Member, Monday Nanza -- Member, Mohammed Alhaji Audu -- Member; and Sheriff Abdullahi -- Member.
Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta, Ogun State
Usman Mohammed Shanawa -- Chairman, Kabiru Yahaya -Member, Chinenye Love Moses -- Member, Uyiosasere Ekhosuehi -- Member and Joshua Oludare Adewale -- Member Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Gamboru Ngala, Borno State Ahmed Wambai -- Chairman, Gazali Hamza Suleiman -- Member, Imam Alfa Rahaman -- Member, Isah Kwayami -- Member; and Mohammed Ize Mamman -- Member.
National Mathematical Centre, Sheda, Kwali, FCT.
Edna Njoku -- Chairman, Kovie Andrew Epetutu -- Member, Oyinkasola Okewoye -- Member, Ibrahim Musa -- Member and Sarah Tukura -- Member.
The President expects the new members of the governing boards of these institutions to perform their functions effectively and creditably and within the ambits of their statutory responsibilities.
Also on Wednesday, President Tinubu approved the appointment of nine Nigerians as members of the governing councils of two specialized institutions of learning.
The new appointees, according to another release by presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, are for Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State Kehinde Akinola -- Chairman, Shehu Maigari Doguwa -- Member, Samuel Isichei -- Member; and Faisal Lawal Halidu -- Member.
Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State Anthony Manzo -- Chairman, Ngozi Okuoma -- Member, Durungunwa Abdulmalik -- Member; Biodun Taiwo -- Member and Florence Toyin Olorunfemi -- Member.
The President expects members of the governing boards of the two institutions to serve with integrity and devotion to the enhancement of their structural, academic, and all-around standards.
Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus) programme began in 2020- 2021 as a World Bank-funded initiative to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the people, especially smallholding farmers, businesses, and vulnerable households, among others.
The objective of NG-CARES was to expand access to livelihood support and food security services and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms.
However, for clarity, THISDAY checks revealed that the World Bank Programme for Results (PforR) interventions involved states and the FCT investing their funds, producing results in line with agreed protocols, and getting reimbursed after an independent verification exercise.
This money, it was gathered, came from the World Bank with relevant prequalifying requirements and not from the federal government as announced by the president.
The N573 billion paid to the States and FCT in tranches were reimbursements for money already spent by the states/FCT for clearly defined NG-CARES programmes, it was further understood.
These involved support for farmers, small businesses, and vulnerable households. Each state got different amounts, depending on its results in the well-monitored programme that began about three years ago, THISDAY gathered.
“It is unfair, therefore, for anyone to portray such reimbursements as some free money donated to the states by the federal government to cushion hardship resulting fom reforms initiated by the government.
By doing that, they create unnecessary attacks on the governors. This is most unfortunate. Anambra state, for example, opted out of the NG-CARES programme because it refused to accept the loan conditions. So, it is a loan, not a free gift. And for the avoidance of any doubt, the President did not and has not disbursed any money to the State Governors to ameliorate the hunger in the land,” the source stated further.
Another state that did not want to get to get involved in the, a source pointed out to THISDAY, was Imo, which was not very comfortable with the conditions laid down by the lender.
The COVID-19 pandemic, a global health emergency with far-reaching consequences on the economy, basic services, social unrest and livelihood of the poor and vulnerable, led to the closure of many small businesses, loss of jobs, stalled provision of basic services in poor communities and increased the population of Nigerians living below the poverty line.
As a response to the hardship caused then by the pandemic and in line with the vision of the federal government to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty at the time, on behalf of the 36 states and the FCT, sought and obtained assistance from the World Bank to the tune of $750 million for on-lending to the states and FCT to implement a two-year emergency response programme. The programme sought to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the livelihoods of poor individuals, farmers, vulnerable households, communities and owners of micro and small enterprises.
Obaseki Mourns as Emeritus Catholic Archbishop, Patrick Ebosele Ekpu Dies at 92
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has mourned the death of Emeritus Archbishop of Benin City Archdiocese, Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu, describing him as a great ambassador of the Catholic Church faith.
The Emeritus Archbishop of Benin Metropolitan See, Patrick Ebosele Ekpu died aged 92. His death was disclosed in a statement issued by the Chancellor on behalf of Catholic Archdiocese of Benin, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Oyanoafoh.
The statement made available to journalists, Wednesday, stated that Archbishop Ekpu died after a brief illness on Tuesday, August 06, 2024 at 7.09pm.
The Edo State governor in a
related statement said: “I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of the Emeritus Archbishop of Benin City, Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu.
“He was compassionate and kind and had an illustrious history as a Catholic priest who worked assiduously for the growth of the Christian faith. He was an inspiration to many and a model that a lot of young people looked up to.
“I celebrate his impactful service to humanity and God and appreciate his work for Christ in Edo State, where he served for many years in promoting peace and societal cohesion. He is a great ambassador of the Catholic faith.”
The governor hailed Archbishop Ekpu for his devotion to Christ and enviable work in the Lord’s vineyard, building a community of Catholic
faithful who have continued to sustain his legacy of service, compassion, and sacrifice.
“I commiserate with His Grace, Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, the Archbishop of the Benin City Catholic Archdiocese, and the entire Edo Catholic Community and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” the governor added.
Meanwhile, the Very Rev. Fr. Michael Oyanoafoh who added that details of the late Ekpu's funeral arrangement will be made known later, urged priests, the religious and lay faithful of the Catholic Archdiocese to put late Ekpu in their prayers. "May he rest in peace and may the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen", Oyanoafoh added.
PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
InAugurATIon of ThE govErnIng BoArd of oyo STATE rulE of lAw EnforcEmEnT
PDP to Oshiomhole: Your Lies Can’t Stop
Asue Ighodalo from Emerging Edo Gov
Says
APC frustrated, stuck with an unsellable candidate
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has knocked a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, over his failed attempt to confuse the people of Edo State with claims of a non-existent court judgement against the PDP candidate in the September 21, governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP stated: “Nigerians watched with utter dismay as Adams Oshiomhole struggled to convey a false narrative laden with fabrications and bareface lies on national TV in a desperate but failed effort to detract from the overwhelming popularity and support of the majority of Edo State citizens across party lines for Dr. Asue
“Oshiomhole’sIghodalo.demeanor on TV when he was confronted with the truth by the anchors was to say the least pitiable, as he stammered and could not provide any judgment against the candidature of Asue Ighodalo.“Comrade Oshiomhole utterances on TV today is consistent with his antecedent of purveying falsehood, smear campaign and embellishment against individuals and groups that he feels threatened about, as evident in his unprintable assault against the person of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu during the 2016 Edo State governorship election campaign.
“Nigerians can remember how Comrade Oshiomhole brazenly and at various times described Pastor
Blessing
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has assured that it will continue to play a strategic role in ensuring sustained development of education in the Niger Delta region.
The Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, gave the assurance in a keynote address during the 2024 Moot and Mock Trial Competition for law Faculties in the universities of the Niger Delta region, held at the Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School.
Dr, Ogbuku said that NDDC has intervened in various areas of the region’s educational development, such as its scholarship schemes, building hostels, providing electric-
Ize-Iyamu as an impostor, a fake pastor, rusticated student, a career dropout, acid bath assailant, liar, cultist, treasury looter; a non-performer, an incompetent and questionable character, who is only good for night meetings and not fit to be the governor of Edo State, only for him to turn around during the 2020 Edo State governorship election campaign to recant all that he said against Pastor Ize-Iyamu in 2016.
“It is therefore clear that Comrade Oshiomhole is an inconsistent character whose words and pronouncements cannot be relied upon. Happily, Edo State people already know his stock-in-trade and therefore place no value or premium on whatever comes out of his mouth.
“Comrade Oshiomhole is an individual reportedly associated with recklessness, causing confusion, quarrelling and disagreements which marked his tenure and led to his unceremonious removal as the National Chairman of the APC.
“Instead of trying to peddle falsehood against the candidature and person of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, he should have used the opportunity of the TV appearance to address the allegations in the public domain of the looting of billions of Naira belonging to Edo State during his tenure as governor.
“Comrade Oshiomhole displayed a ludicrous ignorance by his false assertion that the process leading to the emergence of Dr. Asue Ighodalo as PDP governorship candidate was manipulated; a process that was adjudged to be free, fair, credible; in compliance with the Constitution and Governorship Electoral
ity and many other infrastructure projects in educational institutions across the region.
He said: "Since our assumption of duty at the NDDC, we have made educational development and human capacity building our key policy thrust.
“The previous negative narrative of the NDDC is changing due to the conscious and sustained efforts to chart a new course of development for the region.
“After our Rewind to Rebirth initiative, we resolved to Transit from Transaction to Transformation, which entails making a real difference in the lives of our people, as part of our contribution to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu".
The NDDC boss continued
Guideline of the PDP, the Electoral Act, 2022 and upheld by the Court.”
Also, the Edo State Government has alleged plan by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to orchestrate civil unrest in the state in the guise of protest and rallies to advance obnoxious political agenda.
Commissioner for Communica-
tion and Orientation, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, disclosed this at a press conference in Benin-City, the state capital.
But the leadership of the APC has fired back, saying on the contrary, it was Governor Godwin Obaseki, Asue Ighodalo and the PDP that were haunted by the ghost of their
#EndBadGovernance protest in the state.
In a statement by the party's Governorship Campaign Council, Director of Publicity, Orobosa OmoOjo, said the continued rehash of phantom puny stories by Obaseki and Ighodalo, was a reflection of their fear of reprisals from Edo
State people. Meanwhile, the Edo PDP has called on the Nigeria Police Force to stop alleged continuous harassment of its chieftains and members under the guise of the investigation of the Thursday, July 18, 2024 breakdown of law and order and violence on Airport Road in Benin City.
Police Intercept 250,000 Litres of Stolen Crude, 350,000 litres of AGO in Four Weeks
Ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja
The leadership of Nigeria Police Force, yesterday said it intercepted a total of 250,000 litres of crude oil, 350,000 litres of AGO, and 118 litres of petrol.
The police also claimed to have intercepted no fewer than 13 trucks used for oil theft and apprehended 17 suspect oil thieves during anti oil theft operations across the country.
Force Spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this disclosure while addressing journalists on the achievements of the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering, at IGP-STFPIB office complex Dei-Dei, Abuja.
Adejobi, said the achievements were a testament to the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combating petroleum theft and illegal bunkering, adding that the police will continue to intensify their efforts to ensure the security and integrity of the nation's petroleum resources.
He noted that Egbetokun, has taken
that the commission has reactivated and strengthened its foreign post-graduate scholarship scheme, making it more merit-based and funding it adequately to prevent the challenges of the past.
"We also reactivated and strengthened our free medical outreach programme, which provides top notch healthcare to our people in the grassroots,” he added.
Ogbuku noted that the region had enhanced development of jurisprudence in Nigeria and contributed immensely to the development of the legal profession.
According to him, “Indeed, the region boasts of producing some of the finest legal philosophers in Nigeria, from the Late Justice Udo Udoma, Late Justice Chukwudifo Oputa, Hon. Justice Ndoma-Egba,
the bull by its horns as part of the efforts to amplify the strategy of the federal government in combatting oil theft and economic sabotage.
He recalled that recently, the IGP appointed a new Commander to head the IGP-STFPIB, Anti-Pipeline Unit of the Force, restructured the squad and renewed its standard operating procedure, with a clear marching order to harness all available means within the ambit of the law to curb oil theft in collaboration with other relevant security agencies.
"Similarly, as part of the IGP's efforts to boost the anti-oil theft activities of the Nigeria Police Force, there has been tremendous support to the Nigerian Navy via the NPF Marine Unit, and the purchase of additional 20 boats for the Marine Unit to be delivered soon," he further disclosed.
Adejobi, said that this delivery would surely fortify the arsenal of the Marine Police and IGP STFPIB for effectiveness. He said the IGP has also charged the head of all tactical units to ensure prompt prosecution
Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey, Justice Niki Tobi, Justice Nabo Graham Douglas and Justice Walter Onoghen.”
He announced that the NDDC would sponsor the faculty of law to undertake a one-month internship at the law firm of O.C.J Okocha in Port Harcourt.
Also speaking, the Chairman, NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, said that the Commission would institutionalise the Moot and Mock competition to ensure the it endures.
Ebie assured that the commission would continue to play its statutory role in developing and supporting other efforts to advance education, as well as support the development of legal education through practical trainings to improve capacity.
of suspects, forfeiture of stolen items, products and exhibits.
He said in the light of the strategic operational decision and deployments, over the past four weeks, the task force dedicated operatives have made significant strides in curbing the illicit activities surrounding petroleum theft and illegal bunkering.
He added: "On July 3rd, 2024, acting on credible intelligence, the IGP-STFPIB North-West patrol team intercepted an Iveco long truck with Registration Number KMT 327 YR, in the Rijana
Area of Kaduna State. “The truck was carrying about 45,000 litres of petroleum product suspected to have been obtained illicitly. Two suspects, Ali Ngubdo and Bukar Daluwa, were apprehended. Initial analysis suggested the product was Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), but further examination by the NNPC Pipeline and Storage Company Ltd revealed it was crude oil. The case is now in court for the forfeiture of the product and the truck, and for the prosecution of the defendants."
UBEC Tasks Teachers on Advancing Multimedia Proficiency
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The Executive Secretary, ES, of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Hameed Boboi, has emphasized the significance of advancing multimedia proficiency among teachers.
Dr. Boboi made the remark while declaring open a 3-day training for Smart Schools Teachers on the utilization of Multimedia Studio Equipment in Abuja recently.
The ES, represented by the National Coordinator of the UBEC Digital Resource Centre (DRC), Professor Bashir Galadanci, noted with satisfaction that all the UBE model smart schools were being well-equipped with state-of-the art multi-media content development studios.
Hence it was crucial for the teachers to become fully familiar with how to utilize the various sophisticated tools and equipment in the production of high-quality educational content for their learners, he said.
Delivering the welcome address, the Head of the UBEC DRC Training and Capacity Development Unit, Dr. Hafsat Lawal Kontagora, underscored the importance of the
training in refining the skills of the smart school teachers in content curation and its relevance in their professional development.
She explained that the workshop was aimed at developing the capacity and enhancing the skills of selected teachers from the thirteen (13) operational smart schools, staff of the UBEC DRC and some officers from the Public Relation Unit of the Commission.
The workshop was designed to equip the participants with practical knowledge and provide hands-on experience in managing multimedia studio equipment for educational content creation, video production, and multimedia presentations. The exercise furnished the participants with the requisite skills in the production of high-quality educational materials and enhanced multimedia communication through a combination of lectures, practical exercises, and group activities. It also enriched their abilities to use multimedia equipment like cameras and sound systems effectively. The trainees were adequately upskilled in postproduction techniques and gained proficiency in effective editing and refinement of multimedia content.
Ibunge in Port Harcourt
R-L: Chairperson, Governing Board of Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, Justice Aderonke Aderemi (rtd); members, Hon Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola; Prof Dahud Shangodoyin; Barr Olasunkanmi Olaleye and Major Adesagba Adekoya (rtd), during the inauguration of the Governing Board held at Executive Chamber, Governor's Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.
NEMA HANds ovEr 68,087 litErs liquid GEl FErtilisEr to NiGEr stAtE...
L-R: Director, North Central, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Bashir Idris Garga; Deputy Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Yakubu Garba; Director Planning Research and Forecasting, NEMA, Dr Onimode Abdullahi Bandele; and Secretary to Niger State government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman Gawu, in Minna, after
NEMA to the state government, for farmers that were affected by the flood in the state... on Tuesday
Again, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger Shun ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff Meeting
The Chiefs of Defence Staff from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger once again shunned the 42nd ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff Meeting, holding at Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in Abuja.
Also conspicuously absent, were the Chiefs of Defence Staff, from Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Cape Verde, and Togo.
Acknowledging their absence in the all-important sub regional meeting, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa said, "if you look at the flags, they represent all the ECOWAS countries, and we are hopeful that they will show up".
The three West African countries under military dictatorship had since formed their own regional economic
bloc, code named, Alliance of Sahelian States (AES).
Announcing their withdrawal from ECOWAS, the three military dictators gave reasons for exiting the bloc, like Mauritania did in years past.
The military junta in a statement observed that the (ECOWAS) organization has drifted from the ideals of its founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism, hence their withdrawal.
This is as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, raised alarm over proliferation of small arms and light weapons in West Africa, insisting that the situation is exacerbating security threats in the sub region. He emphasized the urgent need to halt the continued proliferation weapons.
In his welcome address, the CDS, General Christopher Musa, urged the ECOWAS Committee of Chief of Defence Staff to harness their collective wisdom, experience, and determination to advance the security agenda of ECOWAS and ensure a safer and more secure future for the region.
He however emphasized the need for the military to uphold democratic values in line with their various constitutions. He disclosed that it was on the premise of the above that the agenda for the meeting was carefully crafted to focus on critical areas to build on previous engagements.
According to him, some of these critical areas include the proposed ECOWAS security support mission
in Sierra Leone, and the activation of the ECOWAS standby force against terrorism.
Musa added that other issues in line for deliberations are the development of the ECOWAS logistics depot in Sierra Leone and ECOWAS peace support operations.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, said the illicit movement of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) in West Africa has reached alarming levels.
He said: "We must therefore, develop new mechanisms to complement the existing ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons to effectively prevent further proliferation of these weapons.
“I urge the committee to formulate
D A ngoT e/ nn PCL FAC eo FF: We A re n e ITH er T HI eve S n or S A boT eur S , S AYS K YA r I
"It creates the impression that NNPC Limited and our leadership are doing something to create economic sabotage in our country. It is far from it.
"I assure you, Mr. Chairman, that the NNPC Limited and its board of directors and its shareholders are faithful, loyal to this country.”
Kyari added: "We do not lie to this country. And we do nothing to sabotage the economic interests of this country. As a matter of fact, NNPC is the economic interest of this country."
In its response, Dangote Refinery, through its Group Strategy Officer, Aliyu Suleiman, said the firm had so far, bought about 50 million barrels of crude.
Sulaiman said, "About 60 per cent of that came from the NNPC, and we are thankful to them for their support. And we're grateful to them for their support.
"About 20 per cent of that (crude) had to be imported from outside and the other 20 per cent we purchased.
"Essentially, all we are asking for, and let's be very clear, we are happy to pay fair prices.
"We are very happy with the price that they set, the price is like supermarkets and that's what we buy. But what we buy from others is what we think the regulator should look at and the good thing the regulator has done, is that it has published a guideline that will address some of these.
"We hope that we'll work with the regulator and we'll get their support so that the refinery can get 100 per cent of its crude from Nigeria and buy the crude from companies that produce it in Nigeria not from international middlemen.
"Whatever the prices, as long as it is in Nigeria, and that's the price also that the producer will pay their tax on, we'll be happy to pay that.
"Since the refinery started full trial production in January and then full time production started in March,
since then we have processed about 50 million barrels
"We've produced about five million tons of petroleum products. And these petroleum products have been sold to various parts of the country.
"Jet fuel has been sold in Europe since May. It's been sent to Europe. Other products have been sent to places as far as Asia, US, Brazil, and so on. So the refinery has been making a lot of progress.
"We have produced five million tons of products, but about 90 per cent of it had to be exported. While at the same time, the products we were producing had been imported into Nigeria.
"We find ourselves competing against Russian products that have been produced with oil that is valued at $60. "We all know that because of the cap that has been put on, put on Russian oil, the value of Russian oil today in the market is $60.
"That's what Russia is using to produce their products and those products are being sent in large quantities into Africa to compete with products that are produced in refineries that buy crude at $90.
"We don't think this will be a fair competitive environment. It is normal to put protective measures. The US, for example, has done that, to protect their own industries against attack by China that subsidize their own industries and then sends them to the US."
Meanwhile, the Senate panel on the occasion raised questions over the $1.5 billion approved in 2021, for the turn-around maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery with little or no result.
Consequently, the upper chamber lamented that it was unfair and wrong to treat government businesses or public companies as an orphan while private businesses were flourishing and thriving.
Bamidele, who is the Leader of the Senate and Chairman, of the ad
hoc panel investigating the Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry said the Federal Executive Council had approved the plan by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to rehabilitate and turn around the Port Harcourt Refinery with a whopping sum of $1.5 billion under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He noted that despite the huge investment, the government-owned refinery was yet to function effectively, a situation that compelled the country to depend almost entirely on the importation of petroleum products.
Bamidele, expressed grave concerns about the dysfunctionality of the government-owned refineries despite billions of dollars invested to carry out turn-around maintenance on the installation.
He observed that the federation, “is undergoing a truly challenging period,” pointing out that the distribution and supply of refined petroleum products, “has been irregular and problematic in the recent history of our fatherland."
“In 2021, specifically, the Federal Executive Council approved $1.5 billion for the turn-around maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery. Yet, this investment has not yielded significant returns.
“For us, in the Senate, we believe, it is unfair and unpatriotic to treat government businesses or public corporations as an orphan while private businesses are flourishing and thriving,” Bamidele pointed out at the interactive session.
The session was attended by Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of State (Petroleum), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; and Kyari. Others included the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe; the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Mr. Farouk
Ahmed, major and independent oil marketers, among others
In his own remarks, Edun said the increase in the crude volume would stabilise the country’s foreign exchange market while expressing confidence in the leadership of the ad-hoc committee to conduct an unbiased and impartial investigation.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has pledged the full cooperation of the ministry with the senate which is investigating the sector.
“ In view of the fact that the quickest means to overcome our economic challenges lies within the petroleum sector, there is a need to keep Nigerians in the know of procedures and processes being carried out in our effort to transform and reposition our oil sector, bearing in mind the need to protect and promote our local players in the industry.
“I emphasised on this during my appearance before the Senate Adhoc Committee investigating alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian petroleum industry, where I expressed my commitment to cooperating with the committee to put to rest some of the misinformation making rounds.
“The federal government, under President Bola Tinubu, remains committed to fostering the necessary synergy and partnerships to achieve our goals, and we are expediting efforts to complete rehabilitation works on our three refineries to ensure we meet our domestic petroleum needs efficiently,” Lokpobiri said on his X handle.
The National President of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Abubakar Shettima in his presentation admonished the committee against monopoly in the petroleum sector.
"The current value chain in the downstream should be sustained to allow other investors to participate.
"NNPCL is doing its best but should please improve on supply
recommendations to tackle this menace. Rest assured that once your recommendations are presented to the Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level, they would also receive the highest priority".
He urged the top military leaders in the sub region to reflect on the use of non-kinetic approach to complement the kinetic efforts to address the security challenges in the region.
This, he said, includes the adoption of technology, intelligence sharing, improving joint military operations, strengthening our border controls and the building of trust and cooperation between the military and the citizens of the community.
Tuggar concluded that the security of individual countries in West Africa is inextricably linked to the collective security of the region.
of products to retail outlets across the country to end the incessant queue at filling stations," he said.
NNPCL Probe: Ugochinyere Denies $1.7m Bribe to Abbas to Secure House Committee Chair Position
A Member of the House of Representatives, representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State and House Committee Chairman on Downstream Petroleum, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere has denied allegations that he gave $1.7 million to the House leadership to secure the committee Chairman position.
Ugochinyere, in a statement issued by his Chief of Staff, Ernest Njesi, said that it's only a stupid and childish mind that could believe that he gave the Speaker $1.7 million.
He said that, "it's a false and nonsensical belated attempts by individuals with vested interests who wants to provoke and divert attention from endemic corruption in the oil and gas industry."
The lawmaker further said attempt to drag the Speaker and his name into a Hollywood fiction story was dead on arrival, adding that all those who aided the stories in one way or the other would face the wrath of the law including other smear campaigns.
While expressing support over the decision of the House leadership to dissolve the joint committee investigating challenges in the oil sector, he said he trusts the Speaker's decision, adding that if setting up an ad-hoc committee to carry out the investigation was better, then he agrees with him.
"The allegation is a belated nonsensical, childish and unprofessional fiction work aimed at creating division in the House to aide some criminal elements who are long overdue for prison to think they can escape justice which is impossible as the demand for transparency and reform is a task that will be pushed.
"Only a childish mind will believe
In his keynote address, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, said the level of security threats in West Africa requires concerted and unified response. He noted that it is only through collective resolve and shared expertise that West Africa can effectively address the issues and work towards lasting solutions. His words: "Having accessed the dynamism of threats within the sub region, Africa and globally, the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff, is now more critical than ever, hence we must continue to foster greater collaboration amongst our armed forces, share vital intelligence and coordinate our strategies to address the common threats.
the poorly scripted work that Speaker was given $1.7 million dollars for something that those not worth a penny. We will not dignify the cheap attempt to distract and divert attention from the House investigation on the corruption from our oil industry," he added.
Ugochinyere further said, "Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu’s all-inclusive administration style has kept the 10th House stable in the last one year. Their approach to governance has played a pivotal role in fostering a sense of inclusivity within the parliament. They embraced a collaborative approach that transcends party lines, fostering an environment where all voices are not only heard but also valued.
"So we are not bothered by the disjointed attacks and smear campaign against our Hon. Speaker, and the House leadership. These are efforts of unprofessional corrupt elements to pollute the media space in a desperate bid to seek cover from the inevitable that is coming. I remain focused in my fight for good governance."
Also, the House of Representatives said at no time did the House leadership or anybody receive inducement for the appointment of any committee chairman.
According to a statement signed by the Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Hon Akin Rotimi, yesterday, the House said it was an assignment diligently executed by the Selection Committee of the House between June and July 2023, which has a member from each of the states of the federation.
On the recent dissolution of the Ad Hoc Committee on Oil and Gas Investigation which was chaired by Ugochinyere, the House stressed that the leadership of the House reserves the right to disband/dissolve an ad hoc committee whenever the need arises and that the action taken by the House to dissolve it did not contravene any rule or any law of the land.
the handing over of 68,087 liters liquid gel fertiliser by
ikechukwu Aleke in Abuja
APC-USA LEADERS ON SOLIDARITY VISIT TO GANDUJE...
L-R: Deputy Publicity Secretary, APC-USA, Mrs. Khairat Ajiboye; National Chairman, APC- USA, Prof. Adesegun Labinjo; National Chairman, APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Deputy National Chairman, APC-USA, Chief Emeka Molokwu and Publicity Secretary, APC-USA, Dr. Ismaila Maigyara, during the APC-USA leaders solidarity visit to APC National Chairman at party's
Army Speaks on Killing of Zaria Protester
The High Command of the Nigerian Army, yesterday, explained how troops deployed to control the nationwide protest killed one protester in Zaria area of Kaduna State.
A statement by Director Army Public Relations, Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said that a 16-year-old boy, Ismail Mohammed, was hit by a warning shot fired to scare the hoodlums away, which unfortunately led to his death.
"Troops of the Nigerian Army received a distress call that some hoodlums gathered in Samaru in large numbers, burning tires on the road and pelting stones on security personnel. The troops immediately mobilised and arrived at the scene to disperse the mob and enforce the curfew imposed by the state government.
“On arrival at the scene, the hoodlums brazenly attempted attacking the troops prompting a soldier to fire a warning shot to scare the hoodlums away, which unfortunately led to the death of a 16-year old boy Ismail Mohammed," Nwachukwu explained.
The army spokesperson said the soldier involved has since been arrested and undergoing interrogation.
He noted that saddened by the unfortunate incident, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, sent a high-powered delegation led by the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Maj. Gen. Lander Saraso to visit and condole with the family of the deceased.
He said the deceased has since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites with senior military officers of the Nigerian Army in attendance.
DIG Ciroma Visits Bauchi, Conducts Assessment in Deployment Locations
The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Administration and Finance, DIG Bala Ciroma, arrived in Bauchi yesterday to conduct an on-the-spot assessment in response to the ongoing national protests.
The visit signified the Nigerian Police Force's commitment to upholding law and order in the state during this critical period.
Upon arrival, DIG Bala Ciroma, alongside the Assistant Inspector General in charge of Zone 12 AIG, Julius Alawari, and the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, CP Auwal Musa Mohammed, visited major deployment locations across the state, including Azare town where curfew was imposed due to security concerns.
DIG Bala Chiroma reiterated the Police Force's commitment to transparency, accountability, and community engagement.
The Nigerian Police Force remains dedicated to collaborating with all stakeholders to achieve a peaceful resolution to the ongoing protests, a statement by SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, Police Public Relations Officer, stated. Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Police Command has announced that following steady improvements in the security situation, the curfew previously imposed on Azare town
on Monday, August 5th, has been adjusted.
A Press release by Wakil, stated: "The 24-hour curfew has now been reduced to a more manageable 12-hour period from 6 PM to 6 AM daily.”
Sanusi: Security Operatives Alerted Before Attack on Kano’s Oldest Printing Press
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has spoken out against the attack on the oldest printing press in Kano, and noted that security operatives were notified beforehand. Sanusi disclosed this during an inspection to the damaged printing press built 1938, and the Digital Industrial Park of the National Communication Commission (NCC), in Kano.
While describing the attack as a calculated attempt to destroy Kano, Sanusi said despite being notified, the security operatives failed to prevent or adequately respond to the attack during the recent anti-hunger protests in Kano.
"Before this happened, the security operatives were notified in writing that it is going to happen but instead of preventing it, it was allowed to happen.
"Whoever did good knows, whoever did bad knows and they all will see their result. We pray that God gives the government opportunity to return it. As we used to say, whoever had a hand in this is an enemy of Kano and he is an enemy to its people.
"What happened in Kano whoever saw them knew were planned. Kano was billed to be destroyed but we pray that God will not let them succeed. May God return all that was lost, we can only pray," he stated.
Speaking of the printing press, he explained that, "My grandfather had worked here. It was sad that a place like this is destroyed by their grandchildren.
"We pray that God comes to the aide of these youth and whoever is behind it God will deal with them. We pray that we may not witness anything like this in the future.
“I swear to Almighty God those bent on destroying Kano will not succeed and God willing the way they saw Kano they will leave it like that."
Seven Polish Citizens Arrested in Kano
About seven Polish citizens have been arrested in connection with the use of a foreign flag in the Kano protest.
The suspects have been transferred to Abuja, for further interrogation, according to source. The suspects were said to be students in one of the tertiary institutions in Kano.
Spokesperson of the Directorate of State Service, Peter Afunanya, made the disclosure while responding to the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria on the whereabouts of the suspects during the briefing of the Diplomatic Corps by Nigeria's Minister, Yusuf Tuggar on the ongoing nationwide protest. Afunanya said they were found during the protest displaying foreign flags in Kano, and were picked as a result of security enforcement because of where they were and not targeted
at the Polish.
"For the persons we have picked up from Kano because of where they were found during the protest and display of foreign flag in Kano that was two days ago and as a responsible security organisation we owe it an obligation to do some verification and ascertain basic reasons and circumstances for some cases.
“They were picked as a result of security enforcement because of where they were when the incident happened. It is not a targeted operation on behalf of my Director General and DSS and Nigeria.
"As the foremost domestic security organisation, we believe we have to work in sync with all of you who are men and county of goodwill and our operations must be governed by democratic principles and protocol that emphasises freedom and human rights and of course intelligence and security governance we obey all of this whether we are dealing with Nigerians or foreigners.
"But we have a plea, in the cause of the discharged of our duty, we will also see that some of Nigerians definitely would want to use foreign lands as a lunch pad to attack domestic peace and stability.
“We plead that you do not offer your country to some person who may be deviance or have terrorist inclination in today’s global pursuit if anything happened in a country it will affect the others. Nigeria is a country with a large population and I believe that the support other countries will give will help us."
Global Rights Decries Use of Lethal Weapon on Protesters
A civil society organisation, Global Rights, has condemned the use of lethal weapon by the government and its forces against peaceful protesters across the federation.
A statement by Executive Director of Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu, urged the government to respect the rights of citizens to protest as enshrined in the nation's legal instrument. She also, tasked protesters to exercise their rights to peaceful assembly and protest in accordance with the law.
Baiyewu further cautioned the government against the use of the telecommunication companies to deny citizens access to information by jamming the internet, noting that such measures violates international legal instruments.
"Global Rights reiterates its call on the Nigerian government to respect its citizens' right to protest and desist from further aggravating protesters across the country. It also calls on protesters to be law-abiding and peaceful in their conduct.”
Protest Resumes in Ibadan
Despite Tinubu's Latest Appeal
The ongoing protest against widespread hunger and scarcity of essential commodities across the country resumed, yesterday, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, despite a latest appeal by President Bola Tinubu.
A group of protesters assembled at the front of the University of Ibadan to continue with the protest yesterday.
The protesters who were mainly
human rights activists and youths were seen around the main gate of the university, carrying different placards to communicate their demands to the public.
A spokesman for the protesters, Solomon Emiola, while speaking with journalists, said they resumed the protests because the national broadcast made by President Bola Tinubu last Sunday failed to address the yearnings of Nigerians.
“We are protesting because the President failed to address the needs of the Nigerian masses. He has failed to address the needs of the people. He said all the demands of the people, the solution to it is rice palliative. And we are tired of eating rice. A bag of rice now is ninety thousand naira.”
Atiku’s Aide Tackles
Onanuga over Killing of Teenage Protester
Media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has criticised presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, for his reaction to Atiku’s comments on the alleged killing of a protester by the military.
Ibe highlighted that the military’s recent admission of “mistakenly” killing a 16-year-old boy in Zaria, Kaduna State, was precisely what Atiku had referred to in his earlier statement.
Atiku had warned the military authorities against using lethal force on peaceful civilian protesters. He emphasised that those authorising such actions would be held accountable for crimes against humanity, even after their retirement from service.
On the contrary, Onanuga criticised Atiku for advising security agencies against using lethal force on looters and arsonists. He suggested that Atiku wanted the protests to continue despite warnings of potential violence.
Responding on his X handle on Wednesday, Ibe, reminded Onanuga, that even in war, rules of engagement existed.
“Following @atiku’s stern warning to service chiefs and military commanders not to shoot at protesting Nigerian citizens else they face crimes against humanity, the @ HQNigerianArmy has admitted to ‘mistakenly’ killing a 16-year-old boy in Zaria, Kaduna State.”
“The culprit soldier, we are told, has been arrested. That’s accountability,” he said, reiterating that the incident was exactly what the former Vice President had warned about, stressing that those ordering extrajudicial executions would be held accountable under international law.
Plateau Relaxes Curfew, Normalcy Returns to Jos
Following the improvement in the security situation within the Jos-Bukuru metropolis, the Plateau State Government, has announced a relaxation of the earlier imposed 24-hour curfew on the state capital.
In a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Gyang Bere, Governor Caleb Mutfwang said, “Effective from Wednesday, August 7, 2024, residents of the area can now move freely between the hours of 2pm and 6pm daily until further notice.”
He said the relaxation came after a consultation with the security agencies, whom he praised for their diligence and commitment to ensuring strict compliance with the curfew.
The governor emphasised the importance of maintaining vigilance to prevent any potential breakdown of law and order and assured that government would continue to review the curfew as the situation improves.
Urging the residents to cooperate with security personnel and report any suspicious activities for prompt action, the governor assured the public of the government’s unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of all citizens.
Oshiomhole: Hunger Protests Used as Cover for Regime Change
Former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has criticised the demands for regime change being voiced by some of the protesters, claiming that they were using the protests as a pretext for their political agenda.
Oshiomhole, a serving senator, in an interview with ARISE NEWS yesterday, argued that while the protests initially focused on legitimate concerns about hunger and economic hardship, they were hijacked by individuals pushing for an overhaul of the government.
With a history of participating in protests both in public and private sectors, he stressed that any push for regime change must adhere to constitutional processes and be pursued through elections.
“I did say that let nobody talk about peaceful protest. Whereas I recognise the right to peaceful protest, which I exploited, enjoyed and praticalised, I also said when you exercise that right to protest, you must also look at the demands and I have looked at it and my take away from it is a lot of these guys are only hiding under hunger.
“What they are actually asking for is regime change and I said you cannot legally, lawfully and peacefully demand regime change under the Nigerian constitution. On the day before the protest, I saw many people calling for peaceful protests, emphasising that the constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest.
“I have led so many protests, both in the public and the private sector, national level. It must be clear to everybody that the only way to effect a change of government is to go through an election as provided for in the constitution. There is no room for regime change, no room for military takeover of government in Nigeria.”
Hardship: WithdrawsGovernment Sales of N40000 50kg of Rice
The federal government has withdrawn the sale of subsidised 50 kilogramme bag of rice for N40,000 to public servants.
No reason was given for the sudden change of action.
The sale of the subsidised rice was announced on August 1 2024 through the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs Human Resources Management Department. The announcement was aimed at
cautioning the effect of the national protests which commenced August 1 2024.
No reasons was however given for the stoppage of the sale of the N40000 for 50 kilogramme bag of rice
A obtained by THISDAY, was titled: "RE: SALE OF SUBSIDISED RICE TO PUBLIC SERVANTS.
''For effective implementation, all interested staff are required to complete a Google form on the OHCSF website. https//www.ohesf.gov.ng. print and submit some to Director HR for endorsement payment and distribution of the rice will be coordinated by designated officials while the chairman, Joint Union Council of the Ministry is required to serve as an observer during the period of the exercise for the purpose of transparency. ''I am to further add that each staff is only entitled to purchase one bag. Two or more staff may also jointly pay for a bag for sharing among themselves.
"Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of staff in your respective Departments/Units for information and guidance," the memo signed by Mrs. Jaiyesim Abimbola Aderonke (Mrs.) Director, Human Resource Management, stated. However, in another memo, dated August 2 2024, government stated: "I am directed to refer to our internal circular in the Ministry (Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs) of lst August. 2024 on the above subject matter and to inform you that the Internal Circular is hereby withdrawn. "Further details will be communicated in due course. Please, bring the contents of this internal circular to the attention of staff in your respective Departments and Unite for their information and proper guidance,” Jaiyesim announced.
NLC Demands Reversal of Policies Stifling Economy as Police Raid Labour’s Building The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday, urged the federal government to reverse all policies that have resulted in the economic crisis the country was currently facing. It also asked government to set up an independent panel to investigate the killing and maiming of #BadGovernance protesters. According to NLC, its NEC meeting resolved to declare a day of mourning in honour of those who were maimed and lost their lives in the ongoing nationwide protests. In a communique issued at the end of it's National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, NLC urged federal government to reverse all ill-conceived policy measures and implement policies that prioritize the welfare of the people, create jobs, and ensure fair distribution of resources.
Secretariat in Abuja ... yesterday
Photo: ENOCK REUBEN
FG Be GI n S Inve STIGATI on I n T o nATI onw ID e Pro T e STS , v ow S T o Br
GLaZia MaGaZiNE sPECiaL PR LisT…
L-R: Managing Partner at GLG Communications and Creator of PR Power List, Omawumi Ogbe; Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Nairametrics, Ugodre Obi-Chukwu; Actor, Winihin Jemide; Founder of The Peak Performer Africa, Dr Abiola Salami; Lead Partner at Detail Commercial Solicitors, Ayuli Jemide, and Group Managing Director, CMC Connect, Yomi BadejoOkusanya, at the unveiling of the Glazia Magazine Special PR Power List Issue in Lagos…recently
Military Destroys Illegal Crude Oil Refining Sites in Rivers, Bayelsa
Blessing ibunge in Port harcourt Troops of Land Components (LC), Joint Task Force (JTF), South South(SS), Operation DELTA SAFE (OPDS) have destroyed illegal crude oil refining sites in Bayelsa and Rivers States.
In a statement signed and made available to journalists yesterday in Port Harcourt by the acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the military also revealed that the troops destroyed over 40,000 illegally refined products during the operation.
Danjuma revealed that in Odagwa in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, the troops confiscated over 30,000 litres of stolen and illegally refined products, adding that over 12,000
Kano Sets Aside N2.67bn for Infrastructural Devt
ahmad sorondinki in Kano
The Kano State Executive Council has approved the sum of N2.67 billion for infrastructure development in different parts of the state.
The approval was given during its 17th executive council meeting held yesterday at the Government House.
A statement issued by the state Governor, Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, said the approval has demonstrated the government’s commitment to infrastructure growth and efficient public
service delivery in the state.
According to him, “These initiatives are designed to elevate public services and infrastructure across Kano State, addressing both current needs and future demands.”
The council approved the renovation and conversion of part of the Kano State Library into an office complex for the Ministry of Transport and offices of Special Advisers to the governor at N 268 million and establishment of a Computer-Based Test (CBT) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre.
Police to Organise Youth Summit to Discuss Security
The Nigeria Police Force yesterday said they are putting together a youth summit to discuss national security and intelligence gathering, as part of activities to commemorate the 2024 International Youths Day, scheduled to hold on Monday, August 12, in Abuja.
A statement by Force Spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa
Adejobi said that the NPF youth summit is of the police’s recognition of the vital role of young people in shaping the nation’s future and protecting development.
litres of illegally refined products was also confiscated in Nembe, Bayelsa State.
According to the army spokesperson, “In a reinvigorated
vigour aimed at reducing the activities of notorious illegal oil bunkering merchants in the Niger Delta Region(NDR), troops of Land Component(LC), Joint Task Force(JTF), South South(SS), Operation DELTA SAFE(OPDS), effectively scaled up operations against criminal elements in the region.
House Member Tasks Tinubu on Solutions to Socio-economic Problems
sunday Okobi
Amid the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country, occasioned by massive hardship in Nigeria President Bola Tinubu has been advised to speedily come up with effective and creative solutions that will ameliorate the current situation to the country, “if Nigeria must
pull through this current nadir of despair.”
These was the view of the member representing Idemili North and South federal constituency of Anambra State in the National Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo.
In a statement issued and made available to THISDAY, the lawmaker said: “I appreciate his
(Tinubu) acknowledgement that he has heard Nigerians loud and clear. I reckon with his assertion that the buck stops at his table, because it should actually. He should proceed now to persuade Nigerians better by tested actions that will mitigate these afflictions decisively and sustainably.”
He added: “I also endorse the irrepressible liberty of Nigerians
to protest loudly but decently, just as I note with pride our youths’ restraints to act more maturely, especially in our southern region. This is because, as a representative of one of the largest and most populated federal constituencies in this country, I know firsthand how deep the pains are, and how severe the traumas are becoming.
Court Declines Request to Stay Execution of N1.08bn Judgement Debt
Wale igbintade
Justice Rabiu Gwandu of the National Industrial Court, Lagos Division, has rejected an application praying the court to stay execution of N1, 086,611,589.11 judgement awarded in favour of former employees of the defunct Oceanic Bank
International, as payment of their gratuities, and severance allowances.
The court in its ruling refused the application to stay execution of the judgement, and ordered that the judgement sum be paid into the account of the Chief Registrar of the court pending the hearing and determination of the appeal. It would be recalled that the court had awarded the sum of N1, 086,611,589.11 in favour of former employees of the defunct Oceanic Bank International, as payment of their gratuities, and severance allowances.
The court gave the order while delivering judgement in suit numbered: NIC/LA /231/2012 filed by 1,742 ex- employees of defunct Oceanic Bank which merged with Ecobank Bank Limited sometimes in 2012. Dissatisfied, Ecobank in its Notice of Appeal urged the court to stay execution of the judgement pending the hearing and final determination of it appeal.
Abia Moves to Revamp Moribund Water Schemes, Targets 640 Homes for Supply
Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in umuahia
No fewer than 640 homes in Abia State would be supplied with water following the ongoing moves by the state government to rehabilitate two moribund water schemes in Ariaria and Ubakala.
The summit, he added will also showcase the machineries set in motion to boost the innovative solutions to Nigeria’s multidimensional issues by our youths.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, re-echoed the importance of the event to commemorate the UN International Youth Day and foster national security intelligence through youth engagement and development.
Adejobi also noted that the summit will feature discussions on youth empowerment, national security, and intelligence, adding that Interactive sessions will focus on crime prevention, conflict resolution, social media and community engagement.
Niger Gov Settles 21-Year Pension Arrears with N25bn
Juliet akoje in abuja
The Niger State Government has disbursed N25 billion to clear 21 years of outstanding pensions and gratuities owed to retirees. ‘This substantial payment underscores the administration’s dedication to the welfare of the state retired civil servants’. According to a statement titled: ‘New Niger Fact-Check’, issued in Abuja yesterday, the first batch of 336 retired senior citizens from
2003, 2004 and 2005 received cheques of about N500 million from outstanding gratuity. The statement further read: “In addition to settling these long-standing arrears, the state government has also paid N20,000 wage award to civil servants across board for the second time in two months. The government is in addition addressing all outstanding leave grants that have been pending since 2018.
segun awofadeji in Gombe
In a move to mitigate the current economic challenges faced by residents of Gombe State, the state Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has approved the
The cheering news was made known by the state Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, during a press briefing on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting.
He said that the water projects were being “completely financed” by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), adding that each of the water schemes would supply 320 homes.
distribution of essential food items to the most vulnerable persons across the state.
This is further to the resolutions reached at an expanded Security Council Meeting presided over by the governor yesterday.
Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
Oyo State acting Governor, Bayo Lawal, yesterday, inaugurated the Rule of Law Enforcement Authority Board, stressing the determination of
the Governor ‘Seyi Makinde-led administration to securing lives and properties of residents of the state.
Governor Makinde had, on Friday, April 12, 2024, signed into law the establishment of
According to him, works on the water schemes would commence in earnest next month as the development partner is currently engaged in the procurement process and hiring contractors that would execute the project.
To this end, Yahaya approved 1, 000 bags each of 50 kg of sorghum; 25 kg bags rice, and 1,000 cartons of spaghetti pasta to deserving beneficiaries in the 11 local government areas of the state.
Monday stated that Abia State would only play a supervisory role as USAID is fully in charge of financing and execution of the water projects.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Ismaila Uba Misilli, the director-general (Press Affairs), Government House, Gombe, which was made available to journalists yesterday.
Oyo Inaugurates Rule of Law Enforcement Authority Governing Board
the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority saddled with the responsibilities of coordinating and complementing the implementation of the provisions of Oyo State Laws and Regulations relating to
health and environmental standards, asset management/ maintenance and road traffic safety and maintenance while Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), among other functions.
Soludo Congratulates Legal Adviser, Nweke, on Elevation to SAN
dike Onwuamaeze
The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has congratulated his Special Adviser on Legal Matters, Mr. Tobechukwu Kenechukwu Nweke, on his prestigious elevation to the
rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC).
Soludo’s congratulation came on the heel of press release that was signed on August 1, 2024, by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Secretary LPPC, Hajo Sarki Bello, which listed Nweke among the 87 legal practitioners that were approved for elevation to the Inner Bar.
Bello said: “The rank of SAN is awarded as a mark of excellence to members of the legal profession who have distinguished themselves as advocates and academics.” Soludo, in a congratulatory message stated that this esteemed recognition is an acknowledgement of Nweke’s outstanding achievements and dedication to the legal profession.
ikechukwu aleke inabuja
Brume Leads Two Other Nigerians in Search of Long Jump Medal
Duro Ikhazuagbe Live in Paris
In the history of Nigeria’s participation in the Olympic Games, the country will for the first time present three of her long jumpers in the final of the event inside Stade de France this evening.
After the qualifying rounds earlier in the week, the trio of reigning African Games and African Athletics Championships champion, Ese Brume, will lead Ruth Usoro and Prestina Ochonorgor into the long jump pit to fish for podium performance.
Brume won a precious bronze medal at the last Games in Tokyo and has expectedly been listed amongst jumpers to watch out for today.
Brume, 28, has battled injuries most of the season but admitted here on Tuesday that she’s as fit as a
TEAM NIGERIA FIXTURES TODAY
CANOE SPRINT
Women’s Canoe single 200m heats-9:30 am
Ayomide Powei Bello Beaty Akinaere Otuedo ATHLETICS
Women’s 100m x 4 Relay Rd 1- 10:10 am
Men’s 100m x 4 Relay Rd 1 -10:35 am WRESTLING
Women’s Freestyle 58kg 1/4 -10:00 am Odunayo Folashade Adekuoroye Vs Chaimas Fouzia Aoussi (Algeria)
ATHLETICS
Men’s 800m Repechage Rd-11:00 am Edose Ibadin
WEIGHTLIFTING
Women’s 59kg-2:00 pm Rafiatu Folashade Lawal
ATHLETICS
Women’s Long Jump Final- 7:00 pm Ruth Usoro Ese Brume Prestina Oluchi Ochonogor
fiddle to compete today. Before her bronze medal in Tokyo three years ago, she placed fifth in her debut at Rio 2016 before her career picked up, winning a silver at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. In a season in which only two athletes, defending champion, Malaika Mihambo (7.22) and reigning world indoor champion, Tara Davis-Woodhall (7.18m) have hit at least the 7m mark, and are considered as favorites for the gold medal, Brume, with
a 6.84m personal season’s best, will be hoping she can come to form today to leap into history as the first Nigerian to win two individual medals at the Olympics.
Brume has proved she has the big occasion temperament and her coach, Kayode Yahaya, will drum it into her ears she can resume what has become normal service for the Nigerian who has never failed to make the podium of global and continental championships and games since 2019 until the break at
the World Athletics Championships last year in Budapest, Hungary.
The two other Nigerians in the event, Ruth Usoro, the World indoor finalist in 2022, and Prestina Ochonorgor were not given a mention albeit the former holds a 6.87m personal seasons and lifetime best and tops the Nigerian list, so far, in 2024.
If Brume wins the gold, it will be Nigeria’s second long jump precious medal after Chioma Ajunwa’s 7.12m jump at Atlanta ‘96 brought glory
Gallant D’Tigress Bow out of Paris 2024 Basketball with Honours
Nigeria’s D’Tigress bowed out of the women’s basketball event of Paris 2024 Olympic Games with their heads in the clouds despite losing to Team USA 74-88.
The Afrobasket champions were not disgrace as underdogs but attained historical and unprecedented success, winning the hearts of basketball fans not only in Africa, but beyond.
Coach Rene Wakama and her players did an amazing job not disgraced by the Americans in that quarterfinal fixture last night.
The Americans won three of four quarters 17-27, 16-26, and 15-24.
Rena Wakama’s side won the fourth quarter 26-12 but it wasn’t
enough to prevent a second loss of the tournament.
The Yankees no doubt continued their charge for an eighth successive women's basketball Olympic gold medal.
They will face Australia, who beat Serbia 85-67, on Friday with a place in the gold-medal final up for grabs.
Nigeria became the first African side - male or female - to reach the quarter-finals of an Olympic Games by beating Canada in their final group match on Sunday.
After registering a win on their Olympic debut in Athens in 2004, Nigeria had to wait 20 years for their second victory - beating Australia
in their opening pool game on 29 July - but overcoming a vastly experienced USA was a step too far.
The team known as D'Tigress trailed the USA by nine points at the end of the first quarter, but that deficit swelled to 19 by the end of the second.
The USA started to assert their dominance in the third, opening a 28-point advantage, before wrapping up a comfortable night's work at Accor Arena.
Since women's basketball made its debut at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, the USA have won nine of a possible 12 gold medals.
Friday's other semi-final will
feature hosts France and Belgium after they beat Germany and Spain respectively.
Marine Johannes was key to France's 84-71 victory, scoring a game-high 24 points.
France won silver at London 2012 and bronze at Tokyo 2020 and are looking to complete the set with Olympic gold on home soil.
Belgium's women made their Olympic debut in 2020, finishing seventh, but are guaranteed to be competing for a medal in Paris following a 79-66 win against Spain.
The two losing nations in Friday's semi-finals will head into the bronze medal match.
After winning the women’s 100m hurdles heat 1 in a modest 12.49secs to qualify for the semi-finals on Friday, Tobi Amusan, insisted yesterday that this is her season to hang an Olympic Games medal here at Paris 2024.
The world record holder at 12.12 secs won the heat ahead of USA’s Alaysha Johnson (12.61) and Janeek Brown (12.84) of Jamaica. Amusan’s 12.49 seconds is second in the summary of Friday’s semifinals. Only Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12.42) who is the defending champion from Tokyo 2021 is ahead of the Amusan.
Speaking in the mixed zone shortly after her heat, Amusan insisted that having attended two
Olympic Games with no podium appearance, this was surely her season to win a medal.
“This is my season. I have prepared hard enough and executed my race the way I want it. After attending my first Olympic at barely 18 or 19 years old and a bit more experienced for the second but didn’t get on the podium. This third time out here, I think I am ready for the podium. This is my season,” gushed the African and Commonwealth Games champion in the barrier sprint event. She dismissed insinuations that she is under pressure to deliver as the world record holder in the event. “You just said that I am the world record holder, there is no pressure on me,” she joked with reporters fielding questions in the mixed zone.
Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has describes D'Tigress as putting up courageous performance against the most successful women national basketball team, the USA.
"With the final score of 88 points as against 74 points , D'Tigress bowed out in style and won the heart of the world and fans of basketball," stressed the governor. He describes D'Tigress qualification for the quarter finals, as "height never attained by any African
basketball team, male or female, at the Olympics," "Today, we're intentional and strategic in repositioning the sports sector in our state to make Enugu State a repository of Olympic medalwinning sports men and women. "Once again, congratulations, D'Tigress. Hold your heads high. You have my respect, the admiration of Ndi Enugu, Nigerians, and all basketball lovers around the world," concludes Governor Mbah.
Aruna
slides to 20 as Omotayo returns to top 100
In a remarkable turn of events, Omar Assar’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has catapulted him up the world rankings.
The Egyptian table tennis star moved up five places to secure the 17th spot in the ITTF Ranking, as announced on Tuesday, August 6, during Week 32 of 2024.
This shift has placed Assar at the pinnacle of African table tennis, surpassing Quadri Aruna, who now occupies the 20th place.
Despite a disappointing 4-1 loss to Sweden’s Truls Moregard in the Men’s Singles quarterfinal, Assar has set a new African record by becoming the first from the continent to reach consecutive quarterfinals in the Olympics, matching Nigeria’s Aruna’s feat from Rio 2016 at Tokyo 2020.
Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw, despite an early exit, climbed six places to 83rd. Olajide Omotayo, the 2019 African Games champion, leapt 12 places to 92nd, becoming the
second-best mover in Africa.
Nigeria-born Saheed Idowu, representing Congo Brazzaville, lost a thrilling 4-3 match to Sweden’s Anton Kallberg but won the hearts of many, moving up 16 places to the 100th spot.
Egypt’s Dina Meshref continues to dominate the African rankings, ascending two places to 24th, while Hana Goda also made gains, moving up to 31st. Nigeria’s Offiong Edem re-entered the top 100, climbing 14 places to 97th.
Federal legislator, Dominic Ifeanyichukwu Okafor has taken the gospel according to sports to the youths in his constituency, the Aguata Federal Constituency in Anambra State.
The member of the National Assembly in the bid to curtail youth restiveness has opted to spend the season of the Olympics to preach to the youth the positive impact that sports can have in their lives.
“You can be world champions”, he charged students of his constitu-
ency as he began the Badminton Outreach for all Secondary Schools in Aguata Federal Constituency. He charged them not to forget this era of little beginning as they can rise to be state, national, continental and possibly world champions if they are focused.
The five-day badminton outreach began on Tuesday at Agbaelu Hall, Akpo in Aguata. The event aims to promote badminton among youths.
In all, schools are in attendance
and each presents four students and their respective Games Masters and Mistresses being put through in art of coaching.
Hon. Okafor emphasized the importance of badminton, pledging to build a world-class badminton court for sustainability.
“This badminton outreach is a milestone project that will shape the dreams and aspirations of our youths, providing them with a platform to develop their skills and talents.”
Amy Okonkwo (right) trying to dribble her way out of a tight corner during the quarter finals clash with Team USA... Last night
Tobi Amusan in action yesterday morning
Duro Ikhazuagbe Live in Paris
Obasanjo to Federal Government
“When I was President, I invited Shell and I said, ‘look, come and take equity participation and run our refineries for us.’ They refused. They said there’s too much corruption with the way our refinery is run and maintained. And they didn’t want to get involved in such a mess...Those problems have never gone away. They have even increased. So, if you have a problem like that and it is not removed, then you aren’t going anywhere”—formerpresident onmismanagementinthedownstreamsectorofpetroleumindustry
Zanga-Zanga 2024 and the Russian Flag
For some inexplicable reason, people like to send me ‘accusatory’ messages about journalists and journalism. Even for things that I know nothing about. It is almost as if they feel I should be held accountable for the entire Nigerian media space. Three days to the commencement of the nationwide ‘End Bad Governance’ protests, I received one such message from a highly respected person in the North who is very political despite not being involved in partisan politics. I just scrolled through without bothering to respond. But following how the protests eventually panned out in a number of northern cities, I had to go back to the message because I remembered a certain word, ‘zanga zanga’—the meaning of which I didn’t even know until the protests started.
Here was his message: “I don’t know where things stand now regarding the level of mobilisation for this zangazanga. The media have not been providing us with real and periodic assessment of the levels of mobilisation. Nor have they provided us with an analysis of which demographics are for it, and which are against it. As well as to why each demographic holds that view. And they (the media) have not provided us with the foreign dimension to all of this, if any. Some government officials, and pro-government commentators, have alleged foreign involvement. Niger Republic has openly been making inciting remarks, even wishing for a regime change. So, I think the media, generally, have not provided an assessment of the buildup, as it were, to the 1st August commencement of the zangazanga, as proposed. But maybe I just didn’t notice it.”
In the past week, the ‘zanga-zanga’, (Hausa word for protests) has unravelled in northern states, including Kaduna, Borno, Kano and Katsina. Not only with wanton destruction and violence but also with protesters openly calling for military intervention while carrying the Russian flag. It is obvious that the agenda of such people (and their promoters, if any) are at variance with the objective of the organisers of the protest who sought to draw the attention of people in power to the hunger in the country. Now, I can understand why the federal government was agitated in the days preceding the protests. I learnt that some radio commentators in the North were waxing lyrical about how Niger Republic had suddenly become an Eldorado, with the military usurper said to be receiving support for his country from Russia.
The Nigeria-Niger border is 1,608 kilometres long and traverses seven states: Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe, Katsina and Borno. Since local social media influencers are being contracted to spread pro-Russia propaganda in Africa, I will not be surprised if they also have their foot soldiers in Nigeria. “I manage the cyberwar, the media war… and (the late Wagner leader, Yevgeny) Prigozhin conducts military activities,” Luc Michel, who heads the Russian propaganda machine told the BBC two years ago. “I think that Russia must replace the French in all of Africa.” Nigeria, of course, is not a former French colony but we are too close to one for comfort.
On Tuesday, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna alluded to that while lamenting the level of carnage in his state. “When you see, particularly children within the ages of nine, 10 and 14 now raising the flag of another country, you will agree with me that it’s well designed, sponsored by some elements who are calling
for anarchy in their own country,” Sani said. “They took advantage by using the psychology of those children, knowing fully that here in Northern Nigeria, our people are close to our neighbouring countries, such as Niger Republic, making them to believe that what happened in Niger Republic can happen in Nigeria; what happened in Burkina Faso can happen in Nigeria and what happened in Mali can happen in Nigeria.”
While Sani may have a point on the misguided protesters, he overstated his case with the declaration that “the protest has nothing to do with bad governance or hunger or anything.”
The protests may have been hijacked by those with other motives, the fact of hunger in Nigeria is real. Besides, given the dysfunctional system
When the Covid-19 pandemic broke early in 2020, the attention of the world was on Africa. Given the state of healthcare delivery on the continent, there were fears we would be falling in the streets and dying. In Nigeria, the apprehension was palpable. But, as it so happens whenever we manage to put the right people in the right places, the Nigeria Disease Control (NCDC) collaborated with other critical stakeholders to manage the health crisis in a manner that even developed countries could not. Part of that story is contained in ‘An Imperfect Storm: A pandemic and the coming of age of a Nigerian institution’, jointly written by the former NCDC Director General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu and his wife, Vivianne.
Having had the privilege of reading the book that is being publicly presented today in Abuja, I must commend Chikwe who is lucky to be married to a wife who also operates within the health sector as Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, a not-for-profit health communication and advocacy group. As the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General, Dr Ngozi
that does not work for the vast majority of our people, rallying a critical mass to the level of ‘constructive dissatisfaction’ with the status quo is not necessarily a bad thing. But having witnessed in Lagos on two occasions how genuine protests can easily be hijacked by hoodlums, I am also always wary about calls for any form of civil disobedience in our country. In the past, I illustrated this point with the message embedded in ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,’ a 1797 poem that tells a compelling story which finishes with the admonition that it is almost always catastrophic to set in motion a force over which one has no control.
In my column last week, I identified six categories to which Nigerians belong regarding the protests. In one of those groups are street urchins, the opportunistic criminals who wait in the hope of a confusion that would allow them to loot and maim. We saw them on full display in Kano, Kaduna and other cities across the country. Of course, I also mentioned those currently in power, especially in Abuja (and beneficiaries) who view the idea of a protest of any kind as ‘treasonable’. Yet, whatever may be our misgivings about street protests or reckless calls for a military coup, a system where public officials feel they should not be held accountable by citizens cannot for long endure. That is what we just witnessed in Bangladesh. I am delighted that the protests have ended. I also believe the security agencies should fish out all the people involved in violence and looting. Since most of these criminal activities were filmed, perpetrators should not be difficult to fish out. If there are politicians behind the call for military takeover of government, they also must be apprehended and brought to justice. But the government must not misread public mood. There is real hunger in Nigeria. And there is also anger about misgovernance.
I find it rather interesting that as an opposition politician, President Bola Tinubu knew all the right things to say. In a statement he personally signed on 29th September 2014, then in his
Okonjo-Iweala wrote in her blurb, the book is more than a memoir of a public servant, it is a “fascinating journey through facets” that include
capacity as APC National Leader, Tinubu advocated what he described as a ‘common sense revolution’ in Nigeria. “Today, the nation staggers beneath the weight of trouble multiplied by hardship. Peace and unity seem to have yielded the moment to violence and discord,” Tinubu wrote while attacking the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. “They do not have a national blueprint or vision. They do have a blueprint and vision for excessive self-enrichment. Their equation is simple: You work, they feast. You toil, they grow fat. You seek a decent wage; they pilfer the collective treasury to enjoy a king’s ransom.”
Today, many people are saying the same about the government Tinubu heads, and it is difficult to fault them. At a time when most Nigerians cannot afford decent meals and millions go to bed on empty stomachs, it rankles that public officials continue to expend scarce resources to service ostentatious lifestyles. Buying expensive vehicles for lawmakers, and a yacht for the president while most governors live like emperors is part of the reason for the anger on the streets. Therefore, to the chief lawbreakers who taunt the people with their irresponsible ‘eating’ habits, I leave them with a story from the master of the craft, the late Professor Chinua Achebe. In a 1989 interview, which has since been published into a book, Achebe told a story which he would, by his own admission, use “again and again because I think it is a marvellous little story.” I have also recounted Achebe’s narration of it before on this page because it addresses leaders at all levels of society who conspire to hold down the people simply to preserve their own personal privilege.
I consider it most fitting for a season such as this in Nigeria. And here goes Achebe: “The snake was riding his horse, coiled up in his saddle. That’s the way the snake rode his horse. And he came down the road and met the toad walking by the roadside...
the love story of the Ihekweazus and the early life of Chikwe who was born in Hamburg to a German mother and a Nigerian father. Indeed, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus could not have been more apt when he described Chikwe’s narrative as “a true testament to collaborative efforts, leadership and the unwavering spirit that influenced an entire nation facing a global crisis.” Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ANAP Foundation Chairman, Mr Atedo Peterside and my aburo, Dr Ike Anya also provide insights about the book. In his foreword, a former Director General of the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr John Nkengasong, said the book “sheds light on the intricate decisions, the weight of leaderships, and the importance of investing in public health infrastructure—offering invaluable insights and lessons for navigating crises in any corner of the world.”
I wholeheartedly concur as I commend Chikwe and Vivianne Ihekweazu for writing the book that provides insights into a never-to-be-forgotten period in the history of humanity.
